L 44/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 15.2.2001 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 300/2001 of 14 February 2001 establishing measures to be applied in 2001 for the recovery of the stock of cod in the Irish Sea (ICES division VIla) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (%), Whereas: (1)  In November 1999, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) indicated that the stock of cod in the Irish Sea (ICES division VIIa) is at a serious risk of collapse. (2)  The advice from ICES also indicated that the quantity of mature cod in the Irish Sea would remain at a very low level during 2000 and 2001. (3)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 304/2000 of 9 February 2000 establishing measures for the recovery of the stock of cod in the Irish Sea (ICES division VIIa) (%) put in place measures to protect adult cod during the spawning season of 2000. (4)  During the period of application of these measures, further scientific work has been completed and practical experience has been gained which imply that the condi- tions applied in 2000 should be modified to a certain extent for 2001. (5)  In particular, two types of fishing which have been prohibited within an area of the Irish Sea should now be permitted. (6)  Furthermore, these types of fishing should be subject to observation and to conditions whereby such activities will cease if the by-catch of cod becomes excessive, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 This Regulation lays down measures to protect mature cod during their spawning season of 2001 in the Irish Sea (ICES division VIla as defined in Regulation (EC) No 3880/91 (¥)). (1) Proposal of 22.11.2000 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (¥ Opinion of 13.2.2001 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () OJ L 35, 10.2.2000, p. 10. Regulation as last amended by Regula- tion (EC) No 660/2000 (O] L 80, 31.3.2000, p. 14). (*) Council Regulation (EEC) No 3880/91 of 17 December 1991 on the submission of national catch statistics by Member States fishing in the Northeast Atlantic (O] L 365, 31.12.1991, p. 1). Article 2 1. In the period from 15 February to 30 April 2001 it shall be prohibited to use any demersal trawl, seine or similar towed net, any gill net, trammel net, tangle net or similar static net or any fishing gear incorporating hooks within the part of ICES division VIla limited by: — the east coast of Ireland and Northern Ireland and — the straight lines connecting the following geographical coordinates: the point on the east coast of the Ards peninsula in Northern Ireland at 54° 30’ N 54° 30" N, 04°50'W 53°15'N, 04°50'W the point on the east coast of Ireland at 53° 15" N. 2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1 and within the area and period referred to therein: (a) the use of demersal otter trawls shall be permitted provided that no other type of fishing gear is retained on board and that: (i) such nets are of mesh size either within the range of 70 mm to 79 mm or 80 mm to 99 mm; (i) only nets of one of the permitted mesh size ranges mentioned in (i) are carried on board; (ili) the nets incorporate no individual mesh, irrespective of its position within the net, of mesh size greater than 300 mm; and (iv) they are deployed only within an area limited by the straight lines connecting the following geographical coordinates: 53°30'N, 05°30'W 53°30'N, 05°20'W 54°20'N, 04° 50" W 54°30'N, 05°10'W 54°30'N, 05°20'W 54°00'N, 05°50'W 54°00'N, 06°10'W 53°45'N, 06°10'W 53°45'N, 05°30'W 53°30'N, 05°30" W.