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1. Baseline mesh sizes for towed gear 1.1. Without prejudice to the landing obligation, vessels shall use a mesh size of at least 120 mm constructed from T90 or at least 105 mm fitted with a Bacoma exit window of 120 mm.

1.2. Without prejudice to the landing obligation and notwithstanding point 1.1, vessels may use smaller mesh sizes as listed in the following table for the Baltic Sea provided that:

(i) the associated conditions set out in that table are complied with, and by-catches of cod do not exceed 10 % of the total catch in live weight of all marine biological resources landed after each fishing trip; or (ii) other selectivity modifications are used which have been assessed by STECF upon request of one or more Member States and approved by the Commission. Those selectivity modifications shall result in the same or better selectivity characteristics for cod as that of 120 mm T90, or of 105 mm fitted with a 120 mm Bacoma exit window, respectively.

1.3. Specific measures for demersal fisheries when the directed fishery for cod is prohibited

1.3.1. By way of derogation from point 1.1 and from the first entry of the table in point 1.2, except for footnote 1, the following specific measures shall apply in ICES subdivisions 22-26 when the directed fishery for cod is prohibited and when other fishing activities are not prohibited in these subdivisions: 1.3.1.1. In ICES subdivisions 22 to 26 vessels fishing with bottom trawls shall use:

(i) a Roofless selection device in combination with the gear specifications set out in point 1.1, any new gear that is approved by the Commission and complies with the requirements of Article 15(4) of this Regulation; or (ii) a T90 codend modified by increasing the minimum mesh size to at least 125 mm and reinforcing the selvedges with lastridge ropes (modified T90 codend), in combination with a Roofless selection device; or (iii) a square mesh codend constructed of two panels with the same netting material as the escape window of the Bacoma codend laid down in point 1.1, and a minimum mesh size of at least 125 mm, in combination with a Roofless selection device.

Technical specifications of the selection devices set out above are provided in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/3094 ().

1.3.1.2. In addition to the gear configurations specified in point 1.3.1.1, in ICES subdivisions 24 to 26, bottom trawls may also use the modified T90 codend referred to in point 1.3.1.1(ii) without the Roofless selection device.

1.3.2. When using the gear configurations referred to in point 1.3.1, masters of Union fishing vessels shall fill in a separate page in the paper fishing logbook or report the catches in the electronic fishing logbook separately from the catches made with other gear configurations and shall record which gear configuration has been used.

1.3.3. Each flag Member State shall transmit to the Commission the relevant scientific data and information, including the quantities of cod resulting from fishing with the gear configurations referred to in point 1.3.1 broken down by relevant areas, annually by 1 April. The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) shall assess the data at the latest by 1 August of each relevant year, as of the third year of application of these measures.

1.3.4. As of the third year of application of these measures the Commission shall annually assess whether the potentially changing length structure of the cod stocks has an impact on the by-catch reduction efficiency of the alternative gears referred to in point 1.3.1.

1.3.5. Based on relevant scientific information, the Member States having a direct management interest may at any time agree on a joint recommendation in accordance with Article 18(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 requesting the Commission to modify the measures set out in points 1.3.1 to 1.3.4 above.

2. Baseline mesh sizes for static nets 2.1. Without prejudice to the landing obligation, vessels shall use a mesh size of at least 110 mm, or 157 mm when fishing for salmon.

2.2. Without prejudice to the landing obligation and notwithstanding point 2.1, vessels may use smaller mesh sizes as listed in the following table for the Baltic Sea provided that the associated conditions set out in that table are complied with, and by-catches of cod do not exceed 10 % of the total catch live weight of all marine biological resources landed after each fishing trip or 5 specimens of salmon. PART C Closed or restricted areas

1. Restrictions on fishing with towed gear It shall be prohibited throughout the year, to fish with any towed gear in the geographical area enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following positions, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 coordinate system:

— 54°23′ N, 14°35′ E — 54°21′ N, 14°40′ E — 54°17′ N, 14°33′ E — 54°07′ N, 14°25′ E — 54°10′ N, 14°21′ E — 54°14′ N, 14°25′ E — 54°17′ N, 14°17′ E — 54°24′ N, 14°11′ E — 54°27′ N, 14°25′ E — 54°23′ N, 14°35′ E.

2. Restrictions on fishing for salmon and sea trout 2.1. Directed fishing for salmon (Salmo salar) or sea trout (Salmo trutta) shall be prohibited:

(a) from 1 June to 15 September each year in waters of subdivisions 22-31;

(b) from 15 June to 30 September each year in waters of subdivision 32.

2.2. The area of prohibition during the closed season shall be beyond four nautical miles measured from the baselines.

2.3. The retention on board of salmon (Salmo salar) or sea trout (Salmo trutta) caught with trap-nets shall be permitted.

3. Specific measures for the Gulf of Riga

3.1. In order to fish in sub-division 28-1, vessels shall hold a fishing authorisation issued in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.

3.2. Member States shall ensure that vessels, to which the fishing authorisation referred to in point 3.1 has been issued, are included in a list, containing their name and internal registration number, made publicly available via an internet website, the address of which shall be provided to the Commission and Member States by each Member State.

3.3. Vessels included in the list shall satisfy the following conditions:

(a) the total engine power (kW) of the vessels within the lists must not exceed that observed for each Member State in the years 2000-2001 in subdivision 28-1; and (b) the engine power of a vessel must not exceed 221 kW at any time.

3.4. Any individual vessel on the list referred to in point 3.2 may be replaced by another vessel or vessels, provided that:

(a) such replacement does not lead to an increase in the total engine power as indicated in point 3.3(a) for the Member State concerned; and (b) the engine power of any replacement vessel does not exceed 221 kW at any time.

3.5. An engine of any individual vessel included in the list referred to in point 3.2 may be replaced, provided that:

(a) the replacement of an engine does not lead to the vessel’s engine power exceeding 221 kW at any time; and (b) the power of the replacement engine is not such that replacement leads to an increase in the total engine power as indicated in point 3.3(a) for the Member State concerned.

3.6. In sub-division 28-1, fishing with trawls shall be prohibited in waters of less than 20 m in depth.

4. Area restrictions on fishing 4.1. It shall be prohibited to conduct any fishing activity from 1 May to 31 October each year within the areas enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following positions, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 coordinate system:

(a) Area 1:

— 55°45′ N, 15°30′ E — 55°45′ N, 16°30′ E — 55°00′ N, 16°30′ E — 55°00′ N, 16°00′ E — 55°15′ N, 16°00′ E — 55°15′ N, 15°30′ E — 55°45′ N, 15°30′ E (b) Area 2:

— 55°00′ N, 19°14′ E — 54°48′ N, 19°20′ E — 54°45′ N, 19°19′ E — 54°45′ N, 18°55′ E — 55°00′ N, 19°14′ E

(c) Area 3:

— 56°13′ N, 18°27′ E — 56°13′ N, 19°31′ E — 55°59′ N, 19°13′ E — 56°03′ N, 19°06′ E — 56°00′ N, 18°51′ E — 55°47′ N, 18°57′ E — 55°30′ N, 18°34′ E — 56°13′ N, 18°27′ E.

4.2. Directed fishing for salmon with gillnets, entangling nets and trammel nets of a mesh size equal to or larger than 157 mm or with drifting lines shall be permitted. No other gear shall be kept on board.

4.3. Directed fishing for cod with the gear specified in point 5.2 shall be prohibited.

5. Restrictions on fishing for flounder and turbot 5.1. The retention on board of the following species of fish shall be prohibited where they are caught within the geographical areas and during the periods mentioned below: 5.2. Directed fishing with trawls, Danish seines or similar gear with a codend mesh size equal to or greater than 90 mm or with gillnets, entangling nets or trammel nets with a mesh size equal to or greater than 90 mm shall be prohibited. By-catches of flounder and turbot may be retained on board and landed within a limit of 10 % by live weight of the total catch retained on board during the periods referred to in point 6.1.

6. Restrictions on fishing for eel

The retention on board of eel caught with any active gear shall be prohibited. When accidentally caught, eel shall not be harmed and shall be promptly released.