Article 9 Survivability exemption for skates and rays

The survivability exemption referred to in Article 15(4)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 shall apply to skates and rays caught with fishing gear in the Union waters of the North Sea (ICES divisions 2a, 3a and subarea 4).

Member States having a direct management interest shall submit every year, as soon as possible and not later than 1 May, additional scientific information, in particular for cuckoo ray, supporting the exemption laid down in paragraph 1. STECF shall assess the provided scientific information by 31 July every year.

When discarding skates and rays caught in the cases referred to in paragraph 1, the skates and rays shall be released immediately.