7.3.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L 65/13 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 456/2001 of 6 March 2001 establishing measures for the recovery of the stock of cod to the west of Scotland (ICES Division VIa) and associated conditions for the control of activities of fishing vessels THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3760/92 of 20 December 1992 establishing a Community system for fisheries and aquaculture (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1181/98 () and in particular Article 15(1) thereof, Whereas: 1) In November 2000, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea indicated that the stock of cod to the west of Scotland (ICES Division Vla) is at serious risk of collapse. At the Council meeting of 14 and 15 December 2000, the Commission and the Council noted the urgent requirement to establish a recovery plan for cod to the west of Scotland. The immediate requirement is to allow as many cod as possible to spawn before the end of April 2001 when the spawning season finishes. Therefore, the establishment of areas to the west of Scotland closed to fishing in this time period is urgently required. However, fishing with gears appropriate for the capture of pelagic fish, molluscs and crustaceans to the west of Scotland creates no peril for the cod stock. Fisheries for these species within the closed areas should, therefore, be permitted. To confirm that fishing for pelagic fish and crustaceans creates no peril for cod, observers should be placed on board vessels which fish for these species within the closed areas. To further ensure compliance with the required condi- tions for fishing by fishing vessels operating within or passing through the closed areas, additional measures to control the activities of such fishing vessels are required, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 1. Article 1 Until 30 April 2001 it shall be prohibited to conduct any fishing activity within the following three areas: () ) 389, 31.12.1992, p. 1. 0] L O] L 164, 9.6.1998, p. 1. (@ the area enclosed by sequentially joining with straight lines the following geographical coordinates: 59°05'N, 06° 45" W, 59°30'N, 06°00' W, 59°40'N, 05°00' W, 60° 00’ N, 04° 00" W, 59°30'N, 04°00' W, 59° 05’ N, 06° 45" W, and that part of ICES statistical rectangle 39E4 which lies to the east of the peninsula of Kintyre and to the north of a straight line between 55° 18’ 18”N, 05° 38’ 50" W and 55°00’ 30" N, 05° 09’ 24" W; and that part of ICES statistical rectangle 39E4 which lies to the north of a straight line between 55°17'57"N, 05°47' 54"”W and 55° 00’ 00" N, 05° 21’ 00" W and to the south of a straight line between 55° 18’ 18" N, 05° 38’ 50”W and 55° 00’ 30" N, 05° 09’ 24" W. For indicative purposes, a map of the abovementioned areas is provided in the Annex. 2. (a) Paragraph 1 shall not apply to vessels which fish with: (i) purse seines or similar encircling gears; or (ii) trawls provided that: — the mesh size of such trawls lies in the range 32mm to 69 mm for fishing for pelagic fish, and — all such trawls retained on board are of the permitted mesh size range. (b) The prohibition laid down in paragraph 1(b) shall not apply to vessels which fish with: (i) dredges for fishing for scallops; or (ii) pots or creels; or (ili) trawls provided that: — the mesh size of such trawls lies in the range 70 to 79 mm or 80 to 99 mm for fishing for Norway lobsters, and — all such trawls retained on board are of only one of the permitted mesh size ranges, and