The North West Waters member states have now submitted their Joint Recommendations to the Commission for a Discard Plan for 2017. This will be adopted as a delegated act and if not challenged will come into force on 1st January 2017,
The most salient features of the plan are:
1. The lowering of the thresholds, bringing more named vessels under the landing obligation than 2016
2. The addition of new targeted fisheries which have not yet been covered by the landing obligation
3. The addition of by-catch species to existing rules which do not represent a significant ‘choke’.
4. Various applications for high survival and de minimis exemptions