TITLE IIICONTROL OF FISHERIES

CHAPTER VIII Control of recreational fisheries

Article 64Establishment of sampling plans

1.

Without prejudice to the use of data as referred to in paragraph 5, sampling plans to be established by Member States in accordance with Article 55(3) of the Control Regulation for the purpose of monitoring catches of stocks subject to recovery plans practised from vessels engaged in recreational fisheries shall provide for the collection of biennial data.

2.

The methods used in the sampling plans shall be established clearly and shall be, as far as possible:

(a)

stable over time;

(b)

standardised within regions;

(c)

in accordance with the quality standards established by relevant international scientific bodies and, where appropriate, by the relevant Regional Fisheries Management Organisations to which the European Union is contracting party or observer.

3.

The sampling plan shall include a sampling design for the estimation of catches of stocks subject to recovery plans, the gear used and the relevant geographical area of the recovery plan concerned where these catches where taken;

4.

Member States shall estimate systematically the accuracy and precision of the collected data.

5.

For the purpose of the sampling plans referred to in paragraph 1 Member States may use the data collected according to the multiannual Community programme as laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 199/200827 to the extent that such data are available.

6.

This provision shall not apply when a Member State has prohibited recreational fisheries of stocks subject to a recovery plan.