Catch limits for sandeel in EU waters of ICES zones IIa, IIIa and IV are laid down in Annex IA of Regulation (EU) 57/2011.

Pursuant to point 4 of Annex IID to Regulation (EU) No 57/2011, the Commission is to revise the total allowable catches (TAC) and quotas for 2011 for sandeel in those zones based on advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF).

ICES delivered its advice on 21 February 2011 for each of the seven management areas defined in Annex IID of Regulation 57/2011. The ICES advice was reviewed by the STECF, which delivered its conclusions to the Commission on 24 February 2011. In accordance with that advice, the catch limit for management area 1 should be increased to 320 000 tonnes and the catch limit for management area 2 decreased to 34 000 tonnes. The STECF also considered it appropriate to establish catch limits of 10 000 tonnes and 420 tonnes respectively in management areas 4 and 6

The STECF considered that the catch limits for management areas 3 and 7 should be zero. However in supplementary advice delivered on 17 March 2011, the STECF considered that a catch limit of 10 000 tonnes could be allowed in management area 3 in order to conduct a monitoring fishery in that area.

Annex IA to Regulation (EU) No 57/2011 should therefore be amended accordingly.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture,