1.Without prejudice to their current data collection obligations under Community law, Member States shall collect primary biological, technical, environmental and socio-economic data within the framework of a multi-annual national programme (hereinafter referred to as the national programme) drawn up in accordance with the Community programme.
2.The national programme shall include, in particular, the following matters as provided for in Section 2:
(a)multi-annual sampling programmes;
(b)a scheme for at-sea monitoring of commercial and recreational fisheries, where necessary;
(c)a scheme for research surveys-at-sea;
(d)a scheme for management and use of the data for scientific analyses purposes.
3.The procedures and methods to be used in collecting and analysing data and in estimating their accuracy and precision shall be included in the national programmes.
4.Member States shall submit their national programmes for approval to the Commission. They shall submit them by electronic means by the date, in the format and to the address to be established by the Commission in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 27(2).
5.The first national programmes shall include the activities for the years 2009 and 2010.