Division 6 The maximum number of kilowatt-days referred to in point 5 and the TAC and quotas for sandeel in zones IIa (EC waters), IIIa, and IV (EC waters) as laid down in Annex I to this Regulation shall be revised by the Commission as early as possible based on advice from the STECF on the size of the 2005 year class of North Sea sandeel, in accordance with the following rules:

where STECF estimates the size of the 2005 year class of North Sea sandeel to be at or above 500 000 million individuals at age 0, no restrictions in kilowatt-days shall apply for the remaining of 2006 and the TAC for 2006 shall be fixed at 600 000 tonnes;

where STECF estimates the size of the 2005 year class of North Sea sandeel to be between 300 000 million and 500 000 million individuals at age 0, the number of kilowatt-days shall not exceed the level in 2003 as calculated in point 4(a) and the TAC for 2006 shall be fixed at 300 000 tonnes;

where STECF estimates the size of the 2005 year class of North Sea sandeel to be below 300 000 million individuals at age 0, fishing with demersal trawl, seine or similar towed gears with a mesh size of less than 16 mm shall be prohibited for the remainder of 2006. However, a limited fishery shall be allowed in order to monitor the sandeel stocks in ICES Division IIIa and Subarea IV and the effects of the closure. To this end the Member States concerned shall, in cooperation with the Commission, develop a plan for the monitoring fishery.