Article 3U.K.De minimis exemptions
1.By way of derogation from Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the following quantities may be discarded:
(a)for common sole and haddock combined, up to a maximum of 2 % of the total annual catches of Norway lobster, common sole and haddock in the fishery for Norway lobster by vessels using bottom trawls (OTB, TBN) of mesh size equal to or larger than 70 mm equipped with a species selective grid with bar spacing of maximum 35 mm in ICES Division IIIa;
(b)for common sole, up to a maximum of 3 % of the total annual catches of this species by vessels using trammel nets and gill nets (GN, GNS, GND, GNC, GTN, GTR, GEN, GNF) in the ICES Division IIIa, Subarea IV and Union waters of ICES Division IIa;
(c)for common sole smaller than 19 cm, up to a maximum of 3,7 % of the total annual catches of this species by vessels using beam trawls (TBB) of mesh size 80-90 mm in the southern part of the North Sea (ICES Subarea IV South of 55/56° N);
(d)for common sole below minimum conservation reference size, up to a maximum of 7 % of the total annual catches of this species by vessels using beam trawl (TBB) of mesh size 80-119 mm with increased mesh size in the extension of the beam trawl in ICES Subarea IV;
(e)for Norway lobster below minimum conservation reference size, up to a maximum of 6 % of the total annual catches of this species by vessels using bottom trawls (OTB, TBN, OTT, TB) of mesh size 80-99 mm in ICES Subarea IV and Union waters of ICES Division IIa.
2.By 30 April 2016, Member States having a direct management interest in the North Sea shall submit to the Commission additional scientific information supporting the exemption laid down in paragraph 1(c).