Article 1 
1. For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions of waters shall apply: All waters which lie to the north and west of a line running from a point at latitude 48° N, longitude 18° W, thence due north to latitude 60° N, thence due east to longitude 5° W, thence due north to latitude 60°30&prime; N, thence due east to longitude 4° W, thence due north to latitude 64° N, thence due east to the coast of Norway. All waters situated north of latitude 48° N, but excluding the waters in Region 1 and ICES Divisions IIIb, IIIc and IIId. All waters corresponding to ICES Sub-areas VIII and IX.
Article 2 
1. Herring caught when fishing: — in Regions 1 and 2 with nets of minimum mesh size less than 32 mm or, — in Region 3 with nets of minimum mesh size less than 40 mm, may not be retained on board unless such catches: (i) are taken within ICES Sub-area IV, consist of a mixture of herring and other species, are not sorted and the herring does not exceed 20 % by weight of the total combined weight of herring and other species caught by such gears and retained on board or; (ii) are taken within ICES Division IIIa, consist of a mixture only of sprat and herring, are not sorted and the herring does not exceed 10 % by weight of the total combined weight of herring and sprat caught by such gears and retained on board or; (iii) are taken within ICES Division IIIa, consist of a mixture of herring and other species whether or not including sprat, are not sorted and the herring does not exceed 5 % by weight of the total combined weight of the herring and other species caught by such gears and retained on board or; (iv) are taken outside ICES Sub-area IV or ICES Division IIIa, consist of a mixture of herring and other species, are not sorted and the herring does not exceed 10 % by weight of the total combined weight of herring and other species caught by such gears and retained on board.
Article 3 
1. Catches of herring taken: — in Regions 1 and 2 with towed nets of minimum mesh size equal to or greater than 32 mm, or — in Region 3 with towed nets of minimum mesh size equal to or greater than 40 mm, or — in Regions 1, 2 or 3 with any fishing gear other than towed nets, shall not be landed for purposes other than direct human consumption unless they are first offered for sale for direct human consumption and fail to find a buyer. 2. However, any herring caught with any fishing gear within the conditions specified in Article 2 may be landed for purposes other than direct human consumption.
Article 4 
Not later than 31 December 2002 the Council shall decide, on the basis of a Report and Proposal from the Commission, on any necessary adjustments to this Regulation.
Article 6 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities . It shall apply from 1 January 1999. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.