It said the paper provides clear evidence of the need to radically reform the current policy which dictates how European fisheries are managed. WWF is now calling on European Governments to seriously commit to this reform, to save Europe’s fish stocks and create a profitable fisheries sector.

Giles Bartlett, Fisheries Policy Officer at WWF-UK says: 'The

Commission have produced an admirably honest critique of a dysfunctional fisheries policy. The Common Fisheries Policy requires urgent change so that Europe’s seas are capable of supporting profitable and sustainable fisheries into the future. Governments and industry must support this opportunity to deliver the real change that is necessary.'

In Europe, nearly two thirds of fish stocks are in decline, including

some of the most popular species like cod, plaice, and sole. A recent

report by WWF showed that in the North East Atlantic, where fishermen

target species including cod, a fifth of the total catch is wasted as

bycatch. Many of Europe’s fishing fleets are incurring losses or

operating at very low profitability and it has been estimated that the

European fleet has up to three times the capacity needed to harvest the available fish resource.

WWF believes that profitable and sustainable fisheries are achievable and is calling on the Commission to implement long-term management plans that will help protect vulnerable fish stocks. The Scottish Conservation Credits Scheme, set up in 2008, has already put in place many of the elements now being proposed in the CFP Reform, including extensive stakeholder input into management decisions, and conservation orientated regulations to ensure the long term recovery of key species.

Giles Bartlett, fisheries policy officer at WWF-UK adds: 'Long-term

fisheries management plans that look ahead to future years’ catches

show how leaving more fish in the sea today will increase profitability tomorrow. The successful fisheries of Alaska, New Zealand and Norway, where long term management plans are in place, and the capacity of the fishing fleet has been reduced, is a model that could be replicated in Europe.'

WWF urges European governments and the Commission to craft a new policy for European fisheries, and immediately implement new rules to tackle illegal fishing and set sustainable quotas for all commercial fish stocks in the North Sea and Baltic.

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