Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 aims to progressively eliminate discards in all Union fisheries through the introduction of a landing obligation for catches of species subject to catch limits.

In order to implement the landing obligation, Article 15(6) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 empowers the Commission to adopt discard plans by means of a delegated act for a period of no more than three years on the basis of joint recommendations developed by Member States in consultation with the relevant Advisory Councils.

Belgium, Spain, France, the Netherlands and Portugal have a direct fisheries management interest in South-Western waters. On 2 June 2017 those Member States submitted a new joint recommendation to the Commission, after consultation of the South Western Waters Advisory Council, suggesting certain amendments to the discard plan.

The new joint recommendation suggests that the fisheries of blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) caught with bottom trawls and seines in ICES divisions VIIIc and IXa be also included in the discard plan established by Regulation (EU) 2016/2374.

The new joint recommendation also suggests to amend the definition of the fishery for anglerfish (Lophiidae) in ICES divisions VIII a, b, d and e and ICES divisions VIIIc and IXa, as set out in the discard plan, by adding a gear code for trammel nets (GTR) and lowering the mesh size for all set nets from 200 to 170 mm.

The new joint recommendation suggests furthermore to maintain the exemption from the landing obligation granted by the discard plan for Norway lobster caught by trawls in ICES subareas VIII and IX, as existing scientific evidence indicates possible high survival rates, taking into account the characteristics of the gears targeting that species, the fishing practices and the ecosystem. The STECF in its evaluation concluded that the latest experiments and studies, completed by the additional information provided by Member States, show a sufficent evidence on survival rates. Therefore, that exemption granted twice (for the year 2016 and for the year 2017) should be maintained in the year 2018.

The de minimis exemption set out in the discard plan for hake, up to a maximum of 6 % in 2018 of the total annual catches of that species by vessels targeting that species in ICES subareas VIII and IX with trawls, is based on the fact that viable increases in selectivity are very difficult to achieve. The STECF concluded that additional selectivity information provided by Member States did contain additional evidence to demonstrate that selectivity is very difficult to achieve for the métiers involved. However, additional work should be carried out in order to improve the justification for this exemption. That exemption should therefore be extended to the year 2018, and under the condition that Member States provide improved information to support this exemption that would be assessed by STECF.

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/2374 should be amended accordingly.

Since the measures provided for in this Regulation impact directly on the economic activities linked to and the planning of the fishing season of Union vessels, this Regulation should enter into force immediately after its publication. It should apply from 1 January 2018,