Conservation of fishery resources: stock of cod in the Irish Sea ICES VIIa, measures for 2002

PURPOSE : to establish measures to be applicable in 2002 for the recovery of the stocks of cod in the Irish Sea. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Council Regulation 254/2002/EC establishing measures to be applicable in 2002 for the recovery of the stocks of cod in the Irish Sea. CONTENT : the Council adopted the regulation establishing measures applicable for 2002 for the recovery of cod stocks in the Irish Sea. This regulation puts in place measures to protect adult cod during the 2002 spawning season. The most important means of achieving this objective is an area closure which should be in force before the traditional fishing season starts on 14 February. It also contains certain provisions to avoid practical difficulties encountered in certain fisheries as a result of technical measures introduced to protect cod. This regulation has been proposed following scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea in 1999 that indicated that the quantity of mature cod then present in the Irish Sea was at an historically low level. ENTRY INTO FORCE : 13/02/2002. The regulation shall apply from 14 February 2002.�