22.10. 83 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 290/15 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 4 October 1983 " concerning certain measures to adjust capacity in the fisheries setcor - (83/515/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Articles 42 and 43 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the the European Parliament (1), Whereas recent changes in the law of the sea and the consequent establishment of 200-mile offshore economic zones have modified the situation confronting the fishing industry; Whereas the precarious state of the stocks of some species in the Community fishing zones has led the Council to regulate fishing for these species and to fix allowable catch limits; Whereas the Community fishing fleet has had to adjust to the new fishing conditions; whereas this adjustment must continue; Whereas it is important for the Community, in the interests of fishermen and consumers, to retain, during the period in which threatened stocks are being (1) O] No C 6, 6. 1. 1978, p. 120. reconstituted, Member States’ production capacity at the level needed for optimal exploitation of the reconstituted stocks at a later date; Whereas the diversity of the socio-structural problems calls for separate solutions for each one in order to help maintain optimum productive capacity in each region and help develop the market; whereas the best results can be obtained if on the basis of Community concepts and criteria the Member States introduce specific measures of social adjustment, taking the form of a financial aid, by way of national laws, regulations and adminsitrative provisions; Whereas the maintenance of the production capacity required in the medium term may be promoted by measures designed to secure a temporary reduction in the fishing activities of vessels which are liable to become unprofitable because of the catch restrictions; whereas aid should be given, in the form of laying-up premiums, to fishermen who undertake to withdraw their vessels from operation and to recognized producers’ organizations which draw up plans for reducing the amount of fishing done by their members; Whereas the maintenance of productive capacity does not obviate the necessity of permanently reducing the capacity of fishing fleets, the technical characteristics of which make it difficult to adapt them to the types of fishing anticipated in the medium term within and outside the fishing zones of the Member States; whereas such reduction in capacity can be encouraged by means