22.6.2000 Official Journal of the European Communities L 148/1 | (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1298/2000 of 8 June 2000 amending for the fifth time Regulation (EC) No 850/98 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Whereas: (1) Geographical and seasonal particularities render it appropriate that detailed rules for separator trawls or nets with a sorting grid to be used in shrimp fisheries should be established by Member States for fishing vessels flying their flag and registered in the Community. Article 25 of Regulation (EC) No 850/98 (%) should therefore be amended. (2)  Recent scientific advice indicates that quantities of sand eels within an area off the northeast coast of England and the east coast of Scotland are currently insufficient to support both fisheries upon them and the require- ments of various species for which sand eels are a major component of their diet and that a closure of fisheries for sandeels in this area is therefore required. (3)  Article 46 of Regulation (EC) No 850/98 should be redrafted to provide greater clarity with regard to its applicability. (4 Minimum sizes for a number of crustaceans and bivalve molluscs should be revised or introduced. () O] C 89 E, 28.3.2000. (*) Opinion delivered on 19 May 2000 (not yet published in the Offi- cial Journal). () O] C 75, 15.3.2000, p. 34. (*) OJ L 125, 27.4.1998, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regula- tion (EC) No 27231999 (O] L 328, 22.12.1999, p. 9). (5)  Regulation amended, (EC) No 850/98 should therefore be HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 Regulation (EC) No 850/98 is hereby amended as follows: 1. Article 25(2) shall be replaced by: 2. At the latest on 1 July 2002, a separator trawl or a trawl with a sorting grid shall be used to catch common shrimps and Aesop shrimps in conformity with detailed rules which Member States shall establish in accordance with Article 46. Such rules may be applicable only to nets towed by fishing vessels. 2. The following Article shall be inserted after Article 29: ‘Article 29a Restrictions on fishing for sand eels 1. During the years 2000, 2001 and 2002, it shall be prohibited to land or retain on board sand eels caught within the geographical area bounded by the east coast of England and Scotland, and a line sequentially joining the following coordinates: — the east coast of England at latitude 55° 30'N, — latitude 55° 30’N, longitude 1° 00'W, — latitude 58° 00'N, longitude 1° 00'W, — latitude 58° 00'N, longitude 2° 00'W, — the east coast of Scotland at longitude 2° 00’W. 2. Before 1 March 2001 and again before 1 March 2002, the Commission will report to the Council on the effects of the provision contained in paragraph 1. On the basis of the said reports, the Commission may propose appropriate amendments to the conditions indicated in paragraph 1.