http://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2018/973/article/3Regulation (EU) 2018/973 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2018 establishing a multiannual plan for demersal stocks in the North Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks, specifying details of the implementation of the landing obligation in the North Sea and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 676/2007 and (EC) No 1342/2008Regulation (EU) 2018/973 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilRegulation (EU) 2018/973 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2018 establishing a multiannual plan for demersal stocks in the North Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks, specifying details of the implementation of the landing obligation in the North Sea and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 676/2007 and (EC) No 1342/2008King's Printer of Acts of Parliamenthttps://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/eu-exit/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02018R0973-20190814texttext/xmlen2025-04-24Expert Participation2025-02-27 CHAPTER II<Strong>OBJECTIVES</Strong>ObjectivesArticle 31The plan shall contribute to the achievement of the fisheries objectives, in particular by applying the precautionary approach to fisheries management (within the meaning given by section 1(11) of the Fisheries Act 2020).2The plan shall contribute to the elimination of discards, by avoiding and reducing, as far as possible, unwanted catches, and to the implementation of the landing obligation established in Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 for the species which are subject to catch limits and to which this Regulation applies.3The plan shall implement the ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management (within the meaning given by section 1(11) of the Fisheries Act 2020) in order to ensure that negative impacts of fishing activities on the marine ecosystem are minimised and, where possible, reversed.4In particular, the plan shall aim to:aensure that the conditions described in descriptor 3 contained in Annex I to Directive 2008/56/EC are fulfilled; andbcontribute to the fulfilment of other relevant descriptors contained in Annex I to Directive 2008/56/EC in proportion to the role played by fisheries in their fulfilment.4A.For the purposes of paragraph 4(b), in Annex 1 to Directive 2008/56/EC descriptor 9 is to be read as if the reference to “Community legislation” were a reference to “assimilated law”.5Measures under the plan shall be taken in accordance with the best available scientific advice. Where there is insufficient data, a comparable degree of conservation of the relevant stocks shall be pursued.Art. 3(4A) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 25(4)(c); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)Words in Art. 3(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by Fisheries Act 2020 (c. 22), s. 54(3)(f), Sch. 11 para. 9(3)(a)(i) (with Sch. 4 para. 31, Sch. 11 para. 15(3))Words in Art. 3(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by Fisheries Act 2020 (c. 22), s. 54(3)(f), Sch. 11 para. 9(3)(a)(ii) (with Sch. 4 para. 31, Sch. 11 para. 15(3))Words in Art. 3(3) inserted (31.12.2020) by Fisheries Act 2020 (c. 22), s. 54(3)(f), Sch. 11 para. 9(3)(b)(i) (with Sch. 4 para. 31, Sch. 11 para. 15(3))Words in Art. 3(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by Fisheries Act 2020 (c. 22), s. 54(3)(f), Sch. 11 para. 9(3)(b)(ii) (with Sch. 4 para. 31, Sch. 11 para. 15(3))Word in Art. 3(4A) substituted (27.2.2025) by The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/82), reg. 1(2), Sch. 15 para. 125