This Regulation aims at the recovery of the stock of hake in certain ICES sub-areas and Divisions, in the light of the fact that such stock is at serious risk of collapse. The Regulation shall apply to fishing vessels operating within ICES subareas V and VII and ICES Divisions VIIb, c, f, g, h, j, k and ICES Divisions VIIIa, b, d, e. Catches of hake (Merluccius merluccius) retained on board any vessel carrying any towed gear of mesh size 55 mm to 99 mm may not exceed of 20 percent of the weight