9.2.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L 39/7 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 259/2001 of 7 February 2001 establishing measures for the recovery of the stock of cod in the North Sea (ICES subarea IV) 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 (3), 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 in the North Sea (ICES subarea IV) is at serious risk of collapse. (2) 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 in the North Sea. (3)  Norway and the European Union are co-managers of the stock of cod in the North Sea and an Agreed Record indicating, inter alia, the management measures which should immediately be brought in to force was signed by the two Parties on 24 January 2001. (4)  The immediate requirement is to allow as many cod as possible to spawn during the period mid-February to the end of April 2001. (5)  Therefore, the establishment of an area closed to fishing in this period is urgently required in the appropriate geographical area of the North Sea. (6)  However, fishing with gears appropriate for the capture of pelagic fish and sandeels in the North Sea creates no peril for the cod stock. Fisheries for these species within the closed area should, therefore, be permitted. (7)  To confirm that fishing for pelagic fish and sandeels creates no peril for cod, observers should be placed on board vessels which fish for these species within the closed area. (8)  To further ensure compliance with the required condi- tions for fishing by fishing vessels operating within or () O] L 389, 31.12.1992, p. 1. O] L 164, 9.6.1998, p. 1. passing through the closed area, additional measures to control the activities of such fishing vessels are required, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 1. Throughout the period 14 February to 30 April 2001 it shall be prohibited to conduct any fishing activity within those parts of ICES subarea IV situated outside the limit of 12 nautical miles calculated from the baselines of the coastal Member States and within the area comprising the following ICES statistical rectangles or parts thereof: 50 E7 (%), S0E8 (), 50 E9, 50 FO, 50 F1, 50 F2 (*) 49E6 (), 49E7 (), 49 F1, 49 F2 48 E6, 48 F1, 48 F2 47 F1, 47 F2, 47 F3 () 46 F3 (9) 45 F3 (), 45 F4 () 44 F3, 44F4 (), 44 F5 () 43 F4, 43 F5, 43F6, 43F7 (%) 42 F5, 42F6, 42F7 () 41 F5, 41F6, 41F7 () 40 F4, 40 F5, 40 F6, 40 F7 () 39 F4, 39F5, 39 F6, 39 F7 () 38 F4, 38 F5, 38 F6 34 F3, 34F4 33 F2, 33 F3, 33 F4 32 F1, 32 F2, 32 F3. For indicative purposes, a map of the abovementioned area is provided in the Annex. 2. Paragraph 1 shall not apply to vessels which fish with: (a) purse seines or similar encircling gears; or (b) trawls provided that: (i) the mesh size of such trawls is less than 16 mm for fishing for sandeels or lies in the range 32 mm to 69 mm for fishing for pelagic fish; () South of a straight line between 60°00'N, 04°00°W and 61° 00’ N, 01° 43" W. (*) South of a straight line between 61°00'N, 02°00'E and 60° 30" N, 03° 00" E. () West of a straight line between 59°30'N, 03°00'E and 59°00'N, 03°30"E. (®) West of 03°30’E. () South of a straight line between 58°30'N, 03°30'E and 57°30"N, 05° 30 E. () South of a straight line between 57°27'N, 07°00'E and 57°27'N, 08°00"E and north of a straight line between 57°15’'N, 08°00'E and 57°00’N, 07°15E. (®) West of 07°15"E.