Explanatory note

These Regulations make amendments to assimilated law with regard to exemptions from the ‘landing obligation’ (the requirement to land catches of certain fish stocks and count them against quota) contained in Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 (EUR 2013/1380).

Regulation 2 amends Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1393/2014 establishing a discard plan for certain pelagic fisheries in north-western waters (EUR 2014/1393) to remove the de minimis exemption relating to mackerel, horse mackerel, herring and whiting caught in International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) division 7d in the Eastern English Channel.

Regulation 3 amends Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1395/2014 establishing a discard plan for certain small pelagic fisheries and fisheries for industrial purposes in the North Sea (EUR 2014/1395) to remove the de minimis exemption relating to mackerel, horse mackerel, herring and whiting caught in ICES divisions 4b and c south of 54 degrees north.

Regulation 4 amends Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2238 specifying details of implementation of the landing obligation for certain demersal fisheries in the North Sea for the period 2020-2021 (EUR 2019/2238) to remove the survivability exemption for turbot caught in waters within the English zone of ICES subarea 4. It also amends the de minimis exemption in relation to cod caught in waters within ICES division 4c.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the public, private or voluntary sector is foreseen.