CHAPTER IIOBJECTIVES

Article 3Objectives

1.

The plan shall contribute to the achievement of the F1fisheries objectives, in particular by applying the precautionary approach to fisheries management F2(within the meaning given by section 1(11) of the Fisheries Act 2020).

2.

The 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.

3.

The plan shall implement the ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management F3(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 F4and, where possible, reversed.

4.

In particular, the plan shall aim to:

(a)

ensure that the conditions described in descriptor 3 contained in Annex I to Directive 2008/56/EC are fulfilled; and

(b)

contribute 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.

F54A.

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 “F6assimilated law”.

5.

Measures 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.