1.In addition to the requirement set out in Article 70, Member States shall ensure that vessels flying their flag and conducting exploratory fisheries in accordance with Article 74 have a scientific observer on board. Observers shall collect data in accordance with a Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem Data Collection Protocol.
2.The Observers collecting data in accordance with the Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem Data Collection Protocol referred to in paragraph 1 shall:
(a)monitor any set for evidence of VMEs and the presence of vulnerable marine species;
(b)record the following information for identification of VMEs: vessel name, gear type, date, position (latitude/longitude), depth, species code, trip-number, set-number, and name of the observer on datasheets;
(c)collect representative biological samples from the entire catch. Biological samples shall be collected and frozen when requested by the scientific authority in a flag Member State or by the Commission;
(d)transmit samples to the scientific authority of a flag Member State at the end of the fishing trip.