18.2.92 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 42/15 COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 345/92 of 27 January 1992 amending for the eleventh time Regulation (EEC) No 3094/86 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 (1), as amended by the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal, and in particular Article 11 thereof, ‘ Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament, Whereas Article 2 of Regulation (EEC) No 170/83 provides that the conservation measures necessary to achieve the aims set out in Article 1 thereof are to be formulated in the light of the available scientific advice; Whereas Regulation (EEC)No 3094/86 (2), aslast amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3500/91 (3), lays down certain technical measures for the catching and landing of fisheries resources; Whereas many fish stocks in Community waters are in a disturbing situation which requires conservation measures appropriate to the circumstances in order to safeguard the economic sector which depends on these fishery resources, whilst taking into account the already precarious situation of that sector; Whereas developments in gear technology have had the consequence that the selectivity of trawls, Danish seines and similar towed nets is less than that on which the technical measures laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 3094/86, are based; whereas, in consequence, it is necessary to lay down certain technical specifications for such gear in order to ensure that their selectivity corresponds to that on which the aforementioned technical measures for conservation are based; Whereas there is a need to clarify the rules governing minimum sizes where several methods are allowed for measuring the required sizes; Whereas measures for protecting juveniles and immature fish should not only be known and implemented in the trade but (1) OJ No L 24, 27. 1. 1983, p. 1. (2) O] No L 288, 11. 10. 1986, p. 1. (®) OJ NoL331,9.12. 1991, p. 2. should be disseminated as widely as possible to the public; Whereas that information is essential if it is intended to avoid secret and illicit trade and consumption; whereas such information enables better compliance of the rules to be enforced; Whereas compliance with the rules governing minimum sizes should not involve fishermen in needless complications; Whereas mackerel and anchovies meeting the minimum-size requirements are too large for use as live bait; whereas therefore, it is appropriate to allow fish of smaller sizes to be kept on board for use as live bait; Whereas discards currently account for unacceptable wastage on a large scale; whereas a ban on fishing using - insufficiently selective techniques or practised in areas where juveniles are concentrated, together with increases in mesh sizes and the prohibition of gear conducive to discarding, constitute a first step towards the final elimination of practices which are incompatible with conservation and the proper use of resources; whereas it is necessary to introduce a coherent system of management and exploitation which reduces discards to a minimum; Whereas particular attention should be paid to industrial fishing, which is an activity of economic importance to the Community, with regard to its impact on fishery resources; whereas the Community rules should be adapted to allow better management of this activity and its impact on other fisheries; : Whereas industrial fishing is a continuous activity and, accordingly, the conditions governing it should also be stable; Whereas in the light of the latest scientific advice it is necessary to set seasorial restrictions in certain zones off the Spanish and Portuguese coasts so as to limit catches of juvenile hake; Whereas on 22 December 1989 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted Resolution 44/225 on large-scale ~ pelagic driftnet fishing and its impact on the living marine resources of the world’s oceans and seas; b