28. 7. 84 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 199/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2178/84 of 23 July 1984 amending for the third time Regulation (EEC) No 171/83 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 170/83 of 25 January 1983 establishing a Community system for the conservation and management of fishery resources ('), and in particular Article 11 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas, under Article 2 of Regulation (EEC) No 170/83, the Council has to work out, in the light of the available scientific advice and, in particular, of the report prepared by the Scientific and Technical Committee for Fisheries, the conservation measures necessary to achieve the aims set out in Article 1 of that Regulation ; Whereas Regulation (EEC) No 171/83(}), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1637/84 (%), lays down general rules for the fishing of biological resources found in Community waters ; Whereas the method of measuring edible crabs and spinous spider crabs should be specified ; Whereas it is possible to use the simplified procedure laid down in Article 19 of Regulation (EEC) No 171/83 to introduce a closed season for sprat and’ herring fishing in certain United Kingdom waters; whereas the specific provision which regulated this operation can henceforth be repealed ; Whereas provision should be made for greater flexi- bility in the introduction of national measures meeting increased requirements as regards conservation of () OJ No L 24, 27. 1. 1983, p. I. () O] No L 24, 27. 1. 1983, p. 14. () OJ No L 156, 13. 6. 1984, p. 1. species, in accordance with Community legislation and the common fisheries policy, where such measures apply only to fishermen of the Member State concerned, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : Article 1 Regulation (EEC) No 171/83 is hereby amended as follows : 1. Article 11 (4) is replaced by the following: ‘4.  The size of a fish shall be measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin. The size of nephrops and lobsters shall be defined as the length of the cephalothorax measured parallel to the mid-line from the back of either eye-socket to the distal edge of the cephalothorax and as the total length measured from the tip of the rostrum to the rear end of the telson, not including the setae. A nephrops or a lobster shall be con- sidered undersized if either the cephalothoracic length or the total length is less than the specified minimum length. The size of edible crabs shall be defined as the maximum width of the cephalothorax measured perpendicular to the mid-line of the cephalothorax. The size of spinous spider crabs shall be defined as the maximum length of the cephalothorax measured along the mid-line from between the tips of the rostrum to the distal edge of the cephalo- thorax. The size of a mollusc shell shall correspond to the measurement of the longest part of the shell.