Article 2 of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 737/2012 is amended as follows:

paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

‘1. By way of derogation from point (a) of Article 7(1) of Regulation (EC) No 850/98, fishing vessels using a cod-end mesh size of between 70 and 119 mm shall use a square-meshed panel of a mesh size of at least 120 millimetres.’

the following paragraphs 3, 4, 5 and 6 are added:

‘3. By way of derogation from paragraph 2, the square-meshed panel may be placed farther from the cod-end if a different combination of gear and device is assessed by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) as having the same or higher selectivity characteristics for cod, haddock and whiting.

4. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, fishing vessels using a cod-end mesh size of between 70 and 119 mm may use, instead of a square-meshed panel of a mesh size of at least 120 millimetres, a gear or device assessed by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) as having the same or higher selectivity characteristics for cod, haddock and whiting.

5. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, vessels using a cod-end mesh size of between 70 and 119 mm whose catch in any fishing trip in the area east of 8° West of the Celtic Sea comprises at least 55 % whiting may use a square-meshed panel of a mesh size of at least 100 millimetres if they deploy bottom trawls or seines of a single mesh size equal to or larger than 100 millimetres.

6. Fishing vessels making use of the derogations referred to in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 must have been issued with a specific fishing authorisation by their flag Member State prior to going to sea. The flag Member State shall examine any submission for such authorisation in accordance with Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 ( *1 ) and with Articles 4 and 5 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011 ( *2 ) .

( *1 ) Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy, amending Regulations (EC) No 847/96, (EC) No 2371/2002, (EC) No 811/2004, (EC) No 768/2005, (EC) No 2115/2005, (EC) No 2166/2005, (EC) No 388/2006, (EC) No 509/2007, (EC) No 676/2007, (EC) No 1098/2007, (EC) No 1300/2008, (EC) No 1342/2008 and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1627/94 and (EC) No 1966/2006 ( OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1 )."

( *2 ) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011 of 8 April 2011 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy ( OJ L 112, 30.4.2011, p. 1 ).’ "

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2015/741 of 8 May 2015 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 737/2012 on the protection of certain stocks in the Celtic Sea