This Regulation fixes the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks in the Baltic Sea for 2019 and amends certain fishing opportunities in other waters fixed by Regulation (EU) 2018/120.

For the purposes of this Regulation, the definitions referred to in Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 apply.

In addition, the following definitions apply:

1. (1)

   ‘subdivision’ means an ICES subdivision of the Baltic Sea as defined in Annex I to Council Regulation (EC) No 2187/20056;

2. (2)

   ‘total allowable catch’ (TAC) means the quantity of each stock that can be caught over the period of a year;

3. (3)

   ‘quota’ means a proportion of the TAC allocated to the Union, a Member State or a third country;

4. (4)

   ‘recreational fisheries’ means non-commercial fishing activities exploiting marine biological resources such as for recreation, tourism or sport.

The TACs, the quotas and the conditions functionally linked thereto, where appropriate, are set out in the Annex.

The allocation of fishing opportunities among Member States, as set out in this Regulation, shall be without prejudice to:

1. (a)

   exchanges made pursuant to Article 16(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;

2. (b)

   deductions and reallocations made pursuant to Article 37 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009;

3. (c)

   additional landings allowed under Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 or under Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;

4. (d)

   quantities withheld in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 or transferred under Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;

5. (e)

   deductions made pursuant to Articles 105 and 107 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.

The stocks of non-target species within the safe biological limits referred to in Article 15(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 which qualify for the derogation from the obligation to count catches against the relevant quota, are identified in the Annex to this Regulation.

When, pursuant to Articles 33 and 34 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, Member States send data relating to quantities of stocks caught or landed to the Commission, they shall use the stock codes set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

Annex IA to Regulation (EU) 2018/120 is amended as follows:

1. (1)

   the fishing opportunities table for anchovy in ICES subareas 9 and 10 and Union waters of CECAF division 34.1.1 is replaced by the following:

   ‘Species:	AnchovyEngraulis encrasicolus		Zone:	9 and 10; Union waters of CECAF 34.1.1(ANE/9/3411)
   Spain		10 8027
   Portugal		11 7847
   Union		22 5867
   TAC		22 5867		Precautionary TAC
   The quota may only be fished from 1 January 2018 to 30 June 2019.’

2. (2)

   the fishing opportunities table for Norway pout and associated by-catches in ICES division 3a and Union waters of ICES division 2a and ICES subarea 4 is replaced by the following:

   ‘Species:	Norway pout and associated by-catchesTrisopterus esmarkii			Zone:	3a; Union waters of 2a and 4(NOP/2A3A4.)
   Year		2018	2019
   Denmark		85 186810	49 953813
   Germany		168910	108913
   The Netherlands		638910	378913
   Union		85 265810	50 000813
   Norway		15 00011	0
   Faroe Islands		6 00012	0
   TAC		not relevant	not relevant		Analytical TAC Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
   Up to 5 % of the quota may consist of by-catches of haddock and whiting (OT2/*2A3A4). By-catches of haddock and whiting counted against the quota pursuant to this provision and by-catches of species counted against the quota pursuant to Article 15(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 shall, together, not exceed 9 % of the quota.
   Quota may be fished in Union waters of ICES zones 2a, 3a and 4 only.
   Union quota may only be fished from 1 November 2017 to 31 October 2018.
   A sorting grid shall be used.
   A sorting grid shall be used. Includes a maximum of 15 % of unavoidable by-catches (NOP/*2A3A4), to be counted against this quota.
   Union quota may be fished from 1 November 2018 to 31 October 2019.’

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 1 January 2019, with the exception of point 2 of Article 11 which shall apply from 1 November 2018 until 31 October 2019 and with the exception of point 1 of Article 11 which shall apply from 1 January 2018.