1. The new North Sea demersal mixed- fisheries plan for the North Sea NSAC ExCom meeting, Edinburgh, 19 June 2015 Director Bernhard FRIESS

2. Scope and Context The Plan covers demersal stocks caught in Area IV (North Sea), Division VIId (Eastern Channel) Division IIIa (Skagerrak and Kattegat) EU EEZ part of Division IIa (Norwegian Sea) In these areas, the new plan will replace existing cod and sole/plaice management plans  No more effort regime!

3. Objectives MSY objective from basic regulation (achieve MSY, by 2015 where possible and, on a progressive, incremental basis at the latest by 2020, and maintain thereafter populations of the fish stocks concerned above biomass levels which can produce maximum sustainable yield) Precautionary approach Reduce "choke species problem" and help implementing landing obligation Contribute to Good Environmental Status

4. F MSY ranges Plan will include F MSY ranges for cod, haddock, whiting, saithe, plaice and sole. Corresponding ICES advice is available, except for whiting (expected to be delivered on time) No ranges for Nephrops as no F MSY available for all functional units Plan will include time-frames until when F targets shall be met

5. Biomass safeguards F MSY ranges only for a limited number of stocks  Need to manage all harvested stocks sustainably  Biomass safeguards for all stocks

6. Biomass safeguards Transgression of biomass safeguards trigger action  Reduction in fishing opportunities (for TAC species), and/or  regionalised technical measures to reduce incidental catches

7. Regionalisation I: Landing obligation Plan will include mechanism to adopt successors of discard plans Similar procedure as for the discard plans: Member States agree on Joint Recommendations, Commission adopts formally as delegated acts

8. Regionalisation II Using the same procedure, the plan might also include the right to take conservation measures on regional basis Objectives: Adopt conservation/technical measures in case of stock deterioration Adopt measures to increase selectivity to reduce choke species problems New technical measures regulation will also enable regional measures – Commission will have to ensure compatibility

9. Control Measures Horizontal derogations from Control Regulation on prior notification of arrival at port  Circumstances/areas to be defined Update rules on the obligation to use designated ports Specific calculation method for margin of tolerance for unsorted pelagic and industrial catches (parallel discussion on new BS plan)

10. Thank you for your attention!