3.

In Chapter III, Section H is amended as follows: (a) paragraph 1 is amended as follows: (i) points (a) and (b) are replaced by the following: ‘(a) Parameters: Biological sampling must be performed in order to evaluate the composition in length and, where appropriate, in age of the landings for all the stocks specified as mandatory in Appendix XV. (b) Disaggregation and precision levels: (i) for stocks under recovery plans Member States shall apply a sampling strategy, achieving a precision level 2 for the length and, where appropriate, age composition of landings; (ii) for other stocks Member States shall apply a sampling strategy, achieving a precision level 1 for the length and, where appropriate, age composition of landings. However, if this approach cannot be achieved, Member States may apply an alternative methodology for which the required disaggregation levels are specified in Appendix XV.’ (ii) in point (d), first indent, subparagraph 3 is replaced by the following: ‘3. for the stocks in the Mediterranean area, the landings by weight of a Mediterranean Member State for a species corresponding to less than 10 % of the total EU landings of that species, taken in the Mediterranean area, or to less than 200 tonnes, are exempted. This derogation shall not apply for blue fin tuna.’ (iii) in point (d), second indent, subparagraph 3 is replaced by the following: ‘3. for the stocks in the Mediterranean area, the landings by weight of a Mediterranean Member State for a species corresponding to less than 10 % of the total EU landings of that species, taken in the Mediterranean area, or to less than 200 tonnes, are exempted. This derogation shall not apply to blue fin tuna.’ (iv) point (e) is replaced by the following: ‘(e) Discards: Discards shall be the subject of an annual estimation of the distribution of the lengths by type of fishing technique when: — discard data is used in stock assessment working groups, — discards represent either more than 10 % of the total catches by weight, or more than 20 % of the catches in numbers for the stocks for which yearly discard data must be collected, as specified in Appendix XII. The sampling intensities are those as defined in Appendix XV for commercial landings. When discards take place for length ranges which are not represented in the landings, age-reading shall take place in accordance with the rules set out in in Appendix XV. However, if Member States cannot reach this level of precision or only at excessive cost, they may obtain a derogation from the Commission provided that this request is fully documented.’ (b) paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: ‘2. Extended programme: (a) Complementary parameters: Biological sampling shall be performed in order to evaluate the composition in length and, where appropriate, in age of the landings for all the stocks specified as optional in Appendix XV. (b) Disaggregation and precision levels: Member States shall apply a sampling strategy, achieving a precision level 1 for the length and, where appropriate, age composition of landings. However, if this approach cannot be achieved, Member States may apply an alternative methodology for which the required disaggregation levels are specified in Appendix XV. (c) Discards: The sampling programme for the estimation of the annual composition in lengths of the discards for optional stocks specified in Appendix XV.’