# L_2019145EN.01002101.xml

| 4.6.2019 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 145/21 |
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4.6.2019

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 145/21

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COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2019/909

of 18 February 2019

establishing the list of mandatory research surveys and thresholds for the purposes of the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 on the establishment of a Union framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the common fisheries policy and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 199/2008 (1), and in particular the first and third subparagraphs of Article 4(1) thereof,

Whereas:

| (1) | Pursuant to Article 25 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2), the Member States are to collect biological, environmental, technical and socioeconomic data necessary for fisheries management. The multiannual Union programme for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors (EU MAP) for the period 2017-2019 was adopted by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1251 (3) and will expire on 31 December 2019. |
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(1)

Pursuant to Article 25 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2), the Member States are to collect biological, environmental, technical and socioeconomic data necessary for fisheries management. The multiannual Union programme for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors (EU MAP) for the period 2017-2019 was adopted by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1251 (3) and will expire on 31 December 2019.

| (2) | The multiannual Union programme is necessary for Member States to specify and plan their data collection activities in their national work plans. In accordance with Article 21 of Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) these national work plans are to be submitted to the Commission by 31 October preceding the year from which the work plan is to apply. |
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(2)

The multiannual Union programme is necessary for Member States to specify and plan their data collection activities in their national work plans. In accordance with Article 21 of Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) these national work plans are to be submitted to the Commission by 31 October preceding the year from which the work plan is to apply.

| (3) | In order to prepare the review of the EU MAP after 2019, consultations with experts under the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries, regional coordination groups, Member State representatives and other relevant stakeholders are ongoing and will be finalised only at the end of 2019. As a result, the new EU-MAP taking into account the outcomes of these consultations cannot be adopted before 2021. |
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(3)

In order to prepare the review of the EU MAP after 2019, consultations with experts under the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries, regional coordination groups, Member State representatives and other relevant stakeholders are ongoing and will be finalised only at the end of 2019. As a result, the new EU-MAP taking into account the outcomes of these consultations cannot be adopted before 2021.

| (4) | For the period from 2020 to 2021 it is, therefore, necessary to adopt the provisions on the list of mandatory research surveys at sea and thresholds below which it is not mandatory for Member States to collect data, included in the current EU MAP, on the basis of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004. |
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(4)

For the period from 2020 to 2021 it is, therefore, necessary to adopt the provisions on the list of mandatory research surveys at sea and thresholds below which it is not mandatory for Member States to collect data, included in the current EU MAP, on the basis of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004.

| (5) | This decision therefore establishes, in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004, the list of mandatory research surveys at sea and thresholds below which it is not mandatory for Member States to collect data based on their fishing and aquaculture activities or carry out surveys at sea, as referred to in Article 5(1)(b) and (c) of that Regulation. Detailed arrangements on the collection and management of biological, environmental, technical and socioeconomic data by Member States, as referred to in Article 5(1)(a) of that Regulation, are provided for by Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/910 (5). |
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(5)

This decision therefore establishes, in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004, the list of mandatory research surveys at sea and thresholds below which it is not mandatory for Member States to collect data based on their fishing and aquaculture activities or carry out surveys at sea, as referred to in Article 5(1)(b) and (c) of that Regulation. Detailed arrangements on the collection and management of biological, environmental, technical and socioeconomic data by Member States, as referred to in Article 5(1)(a) of that Regulation, are provided for by Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/910 (5).

| (6) | For reasons of legal certainty, Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1251 should be repealed. |
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(6)

For reasons of legal certainty, Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1251 should be repealed.

| (7) | The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture, |
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(7)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

For the purposes of multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of data in the fisheries sector for the period 2020-2021, the list of mandatory research surveys at sea and thresholds below which it is not mandatory for Member States to collect data based on their fishing and aquaculture activities or carry out surveys at sea covering the parts of the multiannual Union programme referred to in points (b) and (c) of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004, is set out in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1251 is repealed with effect from 1 January 2020.

Article 3

This Decision 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 2020.

Done at Brussels, 18 February 2019.

For the Commission

The President

Jean-Claude JUNCKER

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(1)  
  OJ L 157, 20.6.2017, p. 1.

1

(2)  Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC (OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 22).

2

(3)  Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1251 of 12 July 2016 adopting a multiannual Union programme for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors for the period 2017-2019 (OJ L 207, 1.8.2016, p. 113).

3

(4)  Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2328/2003, (EC) No 861/2006, (EC) No 1198/2006 and (EC) No 791/2007 and Regulation (EU) No 1255/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 149, 20.5.2014, p. 1).

4

(5)  Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/910 of 13 March 2019 establishing the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of biological, environmental, technical and socio-economic data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors (see page 27 of this Official Journal).

5

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ANNEX

CHAPTER I

Research surveys at sea

At least all research surveys at sea listed in the Table in this Annex (replacing Table 10 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1251) shall be carried out, unless a review of surveys leads to the conclusion that a survey is no longer appropriate for informing stock assessment and fisheries management. On the basis of the same scientific review criteria, new surveys can be added to this list.

In the workplans referred to in Article 21 of Regulation (EU) No 508/2014, Member States shall set out the research surveys at sea to be carried out and shall be responsible for these surveys.

Member States contributing to international research surveys shall coordinate their efforts within the same marine region.

In their national work plans Member States shall guarantee continuity with previous survey designs.

This Chapter is replacing Chapter IV of Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1251.

CHAPTER II

Thresholds

| (1) | This Chapter shall apply to Union fisheries and is replacing the provisions of Chapter V of Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1251. |
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(1)

| (2) | No biological data have to be collected where, for a certain fish stock or species:






  (a) | a Member State's share of the related total allowable catch (TAC) is less than 10 % of the Union total, or |
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(2)

(a)

a Member State's share of the related total allowable catch (TAC) is less than 10 % of the Union total, or

| (b) | where no TAC is fixed, the total landings of a Member State of a stock or species are less than 10 % of the average total EU landings in the previous 3 years, or |
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(b)

where no TAC is fixed, the total landings of a Member State of a stock or species are less than 10 % of the average total EU landings in the previous 3 years, or

| (c) | the total annual landings of a Member State of a species is less than 200 tonnes. For species with a specific management need a lower threshold may be defined at marine region level. |
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(c)

the total annual landings of a Member State of a species is less than 200 tonnes. For species with a specific management need a lower threshold may be defined at marine region level.

When the sum of the relevant quotas of several Member States, whose share of a TAC is less than 10 %, is higher than 25 % of the share of the TAC for a certain stock, the 10 % threshold referred to under (a) shall not apply and Member States shall ensure task-sharing at regional level in order to ensure that the stock is covered by sampling in concordance with end-user needs.

No threshold shall apply to large pelagic species and anadromous and catadromous species.

| (3) | Without prejudice to more specific provisions relating to international obligations under Regional Fisheries Management Organisations, no biological data should to be collected where, for a certain internationally exploited fish stock other than stocks of large pelagic or highly migratory species, the Union's share is less than 10 %. |
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(3)

| (4) | Member States shall provide catch estimates from existing recreational fishery surveys, including those carried out under the Data Collection Framework or from an additional pilot study, within two years from the date on which this Decision takes effect. These surveys make it possible to assess the share of catches from recreational fisheries in relation to commercial catches for all species in a marine region for which recreational catch estimates are required under this multiannual Union programme. The subsequent design and extent of national surveys of recreational fisheries, including any thresholds for data collection, shall be coordinated at marine region level and shall be based on end user needs. |
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(4)

No threshold shall apply to recreational catches of fish stocks that are subject to recovery or multi-annual management plans such as those applying to large pelagic species and highly migratory species.

| (5) | No social and economic data on aquaculture need to be collected if the total production of the Member State is less than 1 % of the total Union production volume and value. No data need to be collected on aquaculture for species accounting for less than 10 % of the Member State's aquaculture production by volume and value. Additionally, Member States with a total production of less than 2,5 % of the total Union aquaculture production volume and value may define a simplified methodology such as pilot studies with a view to extrapolate the data required for species accounting for more than 10 % of the Member States's aquaculture production by volume and value. |
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(5)

The reference data shall be the Member States' latest submission under Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) and corresponding data published by Eurostat.

| (6) | No environmental data on aquaculture need to be collected where the total aquaculture production of the Member State is less than 2,5 % of the total Union aquaculture production volume and value. |
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(6)

The reference data shall be the Member States' latest submission under Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 and corresponding data published by Eurostat.

| (7) | A Member State's participation (physical or financial) in research surveys at sea listed in the list of surveys at sea of this Annex is not mandatory when its share of a Union TAC of the survey target species is below a threshold of 3 %. Where no TAC is set, a Member State's participation (physical or financial) in research surveys at sea is not mandatory when its share of the total Union landings of the preceding 3 years of a stock or species is below a threshold of 3 %. Thresholds for multispecies and ecosystem surveys may be defined at marine region level. |
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(7)

| (8) | Notwithstanding points 2 to 7, within the same marine region, Member States may agree on alternative thresholds.

  List of research surveys at sea
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  Name of the survey | Acronym | Area | Period | Main targeted species |
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| Baltic Sea |
| Baltic International Trawl Survey | BITS Q1
  BITS Q4 | IIIaS, IIIb-d | 1st and 4th Quarter | Cod and other demersal species |
| Baltic International Acoustic Survey (Autumn) | BIAS | IIIa, IIIb-d | Sep-Oct | Herring and sprat |
| Gulf of Riga Acoustic Herring Survey | GRAHS | IIId | 3rd Quarter | Herring |
| Sprat Acoustic Survey | SPRAS | IIId | May | Sprat and herring |
| Rügen Herring Larvae Survey | RHLS | IIId | March-June | Herring |
| North Sea and Eastern Arctic (ICES areas I and II) |
| International Bottom Trawl Survey | IBTS Q1
  IBTS Q3 | IIIa, IV | 1st and 3rd Quarter | Haddock, Cod, Saithe, Herring, Sprat, Whiting, Mackerel, Norway pout. |
| North Sea Beam Trawl Survey | BTS | IVb,IVc,VIId | 3rd Quarter | Plaice, Sole |
| Demersal Young Fish Survey | DYFS | Coasts of NS | 3rd and4th Quarter | Plaice, sole, brown shrimp |
| Sole Net Survey | SNS | IVb, IVc | 3rd Quarter | Sole, Plaice |
| North Sea Sandeels Survey | NSSS | IVa, IVb | 4th Quarter | Sandeels |
| International Ecosystem Survey in the Nordic Seas | ASH | IIa | May | Herring, Blue whiting |
| Redfish Survey in the Norwegian Sea and adjacent waters | REDNOR | II | August- September | Redfish |
| Mackerel egg Survey
  (Triennial) | NSMEGS | IV | May-July | Mackerel egg production |
| Herring Larvae survey | IHLS | IV,VIId | 1st and 3rd Quarter | Herring, Sprat Larvae |
| NS Herring Acoustic Survey | NHAS | IIIa, IV,VIa | June, July | Herring, Sprat |
| Nephrops TVsurvey (FU 3&4) | NTV3&4 | IIIA | 2nd or 3rd Quarter | Nephrops |
| Nephrops TVsurvey (FU 6) | NTV6 | IVb | September | Nephrops |
| Nephrops TVsurvey (FU 7) | NTV7 | IVa | 2nd or 3rd Quarter | Nephrops |
| Nephrops TVsurvey (FU 8) | NTV8 | IVb | 2nd or 3rd Quarter | Nephrops |
| Nephrops TVsurvey (FU 9) | NTV9 | IVa | 2nd or 3rd Quarter | Nephrops |
| North Atlantic (ICES Areas V-XIV and NAFO areas) |
| International Redfish Trawl and Acoustic Survey (Biennial) | REDTAS | Va, XII, XIV; NAFO SA 1-3 | June/July | Redfish |
| Flemish Cap Groundfish survey | FCGS | 3M | July | Demersal species |
| Greenland Groundfish survey | GGS | XIV, NAFO SA1 | October/November | Cod, redfish and other demersal species |
| 3LNO Groundfish survey | PLATUXA | NAFO 3LNO | 2nd and 3rd Quarter | Demersal species |
| Western IBTS 4th quarter
  (including Porcupine survey) | IBTS Q4 | VIa, VII, VIII, IXa | 4th Quarter | Demersal species |
| Scottish Western IBTS | IBTS Q1 | VIa,VIIa | March | Gadoids, herring, mackerel |
| ISBCBTS September | ISBCBTS | VIIa f g | September | Sole, Plaice |
| WCBTS | VIIe BTS | VIIe | October | Sole, Plaice, Anglerfish, Lemon sole |
| Blue whiting survey | | VI, VII | 1st and 2nd Quarter | Blue whiting |
| International Mackerel and Horse Mackerel Egg Survey
  (Triennial) | MEGS | VIa, VII,VIII, IXa | January-July | Mackerel, Horse Mackerel egg production |
| Sardine, Anchovy Horse Mackerel Acoustic Survey | | VIII, IX | March-April-May | Sardine, Anchovy, Mackerel, Horse Mackerel abundance indices |
| Sardine DEPM
  (Triennial) | | VIIIc, IXa | 2nd and 4th Quarter | Sardine SSB and use of CUFES |
| Spawning/Pre spawning Herring/Boarfish acoustic survey | | VIa, VIIa-g | July, Sept, Nov, March, Jan | Herring, Sprat |
| Biomass of Anchovy | BIOMAN | VIII | May | Anchovy SSB (DEP) |
| Nephrops UWTV survey (offshore) | UWTV
  (FU 11-13) | VIa | 2nd or 3rd Quarter | Nephrops |
| Nephrops UWTV
  Irish Sea | UWTV
  (FU 15) | VIIa | August | Nephrops |
| Nephrops UWTV survey
  Aran Grounds | UWTV
  (FU 17) | VIIb | June | Nephrops |
| Nephrops UWTV survey
  Celtic Sea | UWTV
  (FU 20-22) | VIIg,h,j | July | Nephrops |
| Nephrops Survey
  Offshore Portugal NepS | UWTV
  (FU 28-29) | IXa | June | Nephrops |
| Mediterranean waters and Black sea |
| Pan-Mediterranean Acoustic Survey () | MEDIAS | GSA 1, 6, 7, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22 | Spring-summer (qtrs 2-3) | Small pelagic species |
| Bottom trawl survey in Black Sea, | BTSBS | GSA 29 | Spring - autumn (qtrs 2,3,4) | Turbot |
| Pelagic trawl survey in Black Sea, | PTSBS | GSA 29 | Spring-autumn (qtrs 2,3,4) | Sprat and Whiting |
| International bottom trawl survey in the Mediterranean (), | MEDITS | GSA 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25 | Spring-summer (qtrs 2-3) | Demersal species |

(8)

List of research surveys at sea
   (2)

Name of the survey

Acronym

Area

Period

Main targeted species

Baltic Sea

Baltic International Trawl Survey

BITS Q1

BITS Q4

IIIaS, IIIb-d

1st and 4th Quarter

Cod and other demersal species

Baltic International Acoustic Survey (Autumn)

BIAS

IIIa, IIIb-d

Sep-Oct

Herring and sprat

Gulf of Riga Acoustic Herring Survey

GRAHS

IIId

3rd Quarter

Herring

Sprat Acoustic Survey

SPRAS

IIId

May

Sprat and herring

Rügen Herring Larvae Survey

RHLS

IIId

March-June

Herring

North Sea and Eastern Arctic (ICES areas I and II)

International Bottom Trawl Survey

IBTS Q1

IBTS Q3

IIIa, IV

1st and 3rd Quarter

Haddock, Cod, Saithe, Herring, Sprat, Whiting, Mackerel, Norway pout.

North Sea Beam Trawl Survey

BTS

IVb,IVc,VIId

3rd Quarter

Plaice, Sole

Demersal Young Fish Survey

DYFS

Coasts of NS

3rd and4th Quarter

Plaice, sole, brown shrimp

Sole Net Survey

SNS

IVb, IVc

3rd Quarter

Sole, Plaice

North Sea Sandeels Survey

NSSS

IVa, IVb

4th Quarter

Sandeels

International Ecosystem Survey in the Nordic Seas

ASH

IIa

May

Herring, Blue whiting

Redfish Survey in the Norwegian Sea and adjacent waters

REDNOR

II

August- September

Redfish

Mackerel egg Survey

(Triennial)

NSMEGS

IV

May-July

Mackerel egg production

Herring Larvae survey

IHLS

IV,VIId

1st and 3rd Quarter

Herring, Sprat Larvae

NS Herring Acoustic Survey

NHAS

IIIa, IV,VIa

June, July

Herring, Sprat

Nephrops TVsurvey (FU 3&4)

NTV3&4

IIIA

2nd or 3rd Quarter

Nephrops

Nephrops TVsurvey (FU 6)

NTV6

IVb

September

Nephrops

Nephrops TVsurvey (FU 7)

NTV7

IVa

2nd or 3rd Quarter

Nephrops

Nephrops TVsurvey (FU 8)

NTV8

IVb

2nd or 3rd Quarter

Nephrops

Nephrops TVsurvey (FU 9)

NTV9

IVa

2nd or 3rd Quarter

Nephrops

North Atlantic (ICES Areas V-XIV and NAFO areas)

International Redfish Trawl and Acoustic Survey (Biennial)

REDTAS

Va, XII, XIV; NAFO SA 1-3

June/July

Redfish

Flemish Cap Groundfish survey

FCGS

3M

July

Demersal species

Greenland Groundfish survey

GGS

XIV, NAFO SA1

October/November

Cod, redfish and other demersal species

3LNO Groundfish survey

PLATUXA

NAFO 3LNO

2nd and 3rd Quarter

Demersal species

Western IBTS 4th quarter

(including Porcupine survey)

IBTS Q4

VIa, VII, VIII, IXa

4th Quarter

Demersal species

Scottish Western IBTS

IBTS Q1

VIa,VIIa

March

Gadoids, herring, mackerel

ISBCBTS September

ISBCBTS

VIIa f g

September

Sole, Plaice

WCBTS

VIIe BTS

VIIe

October

Sole, Plaice, Anglerfish, Lemon sole

Blue whiting survey

VI, VII

1st and 2nd Quarter

Blue whiting

International Mackerel and Horse Mackerel Egg Survey

(Triennial)

MEGS

VIa, VII,VIII, IXa

January-July

Mackerel, Horse Mackerel egg production

Sardine, Anchovy Horse Mackerel Acoustic Survey

VIII, IX

March-April-May

Sardine, Anchovy, Mackerel, Horse Mackerel abundance indices

Sardine DEPM

(Triennial)

VIIIc, IXa

2nd and 4th Quarter

Sardine SSB and use of CUFES

Spawning/Pre spawning Herring/Boarfish acoustic survey

VIa, VIIa-g

July, Sept, Nov, March, Jan

Herring, Sprat

Biomass of Anchovy

BIOMAN

VIII

May

Anchovy SSB (DEP)

Nephrops UWTV survey (offshore)

UWTV

(FU 11-13)

VIa

2nd or 3rd Quarter

Nephrops

Nephrops UWTV

Irish Sea

UWTV

(FU 15)

VIIa

August

Nephrops

Nephrops UWTV survey

Aran Grounds

UWTV

(FU 17)

VIIb

June

Nephrops

Nephrops UWTV survey

Celtic Sea

UWTV

(FU 20-22)

VIIg,h,j

July

Nephrops

Nephrops Survey

Offshore Portugal NepS

UWTV

(FU 28-29)

IXa

June

Nephrops

Mediterranean waters and Black sea

Pan-Mediterranean Acoustic Survey ()

MEDIAS

GSA 1, 6, 7, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22

Spring-summer (qtrs 2-3)

Small pelagic species

Bottom trawl survey in Black Sea,

BTSBS

GSA 29

Spring - autumn (qtrs 2,3,4)

Turbot

Pelagic trawl survey in Black Sea,

PTSBS

GSA 29

Spring-autumn (qtrs 2,3,4)

Sprat and Whiting

International bottom trawl survey in the Mediterranean (),

MEDITS

GSA 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25

Spring-summer (qtrs 2-3)

Demersal species

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(1)  Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 on the submission by Member States of statistics on aquaculture and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 788/96 (OJ L 218, 13.8.2008, p. 1).

(2)  The list of research surveys at sea is replacing Table 10 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1251.

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