Council Regulation (EC) No. 254/2002 establishing measures to be applicable in 2002 for the recovery of the stock of cod in the Irish Sea (ICES division VIIa).

This Regulation lays down measures to protect mature cod during their spawning season of 2002 in the Irish Sea (ICES division VIIa as defined in Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3880/91 of 17 December 1991). Article 2 establishes the period during which it shall be prohibited to use any demersal trawl, seine or similar towed net, any gill net, trammel net, tangle net or similar static net or any fishing gear incorporating hooks within that part of ICES division VIIa enclosed by the east coast of Ireland and the east coast of Northern Ireland, and straight lines sequentially joining the geographical coordinates referred therein. Article 2(2) determines the conditions under which the use of demersal otter trawls shall be permitted, by way of derogation from paragraph 1 of the same article. Catches retained on board and taken by demersal otter trawls or separator trawls under the conditions laid down in article 2(2) shall not be landed unless their percentage composition complies with conditions laid down in Annex I to Council Regulation (EC) No. 850/98 of 30 March 1998 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms with respect to towed gears of mesh size range 70 mm to 79 mm. An Annex laying down technical details relating to separator trawls is attached.