Annual scientific advice on the status of North Sea fish stocks has
revealed a small (five per cent) increase in the amount of spawning cod.
But an inconsistent approach by EU Member States to the problem of
discards still threatens to undermine the future recovery of stocks. WWF is now urging all Member States to enforce strict rules on discards in order to reduce the number of fish that are needlessly caught and thrown overboard.
This year, the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas
(ICES) has classified North Sea cod stocks as ‘suffering reduced
reproductive capacity and as at risk of being harvested
unsustainably’. The number of spawning cod is showing a slight
increase from recent rock bottom levels. However last year total catches were again much higher than the agreed fishing quotas. Discard levels increased in 2007 and 2008 and were almost equal to the number of fish landed in these years, meaning at least twice as many fish were taken from the sea than recommended by scientists.
Louize Hill, fisheries policy officer at WWF, says: 'It is encouraging to see that there is a glimmer of hope for North
Sea cod. However, stocks are still at precariously low levels and it is only by clamping down on discards that Governments and the fishing
industry can ensure cod stocks are given a fighting chance for recovery.
Countries such as Scotland and Norway are already taking strong action
to tackle discards. It’s time the rest of Europe followed suit.'
At the end of 2008 the EU and Norway agreed on a number of management
measures for stocks in the North Sea to reduce the number of fish caught and discarded. These included the closure of spawning fish grounds, and a ban on ‘high-grading’ - the practice of discarding marketable sized fish that fetch a lower sales price. WWF agrees with ICES that the implementation and enforcement of these measures is crucial to the recovery of cod stocks.
Several countries are now following the Scottish lead, closing areas to fishing for a fixed time to protect large aggregations of juvenile and spawning fish, and in Denmark, onboard video monitoring is being
trialled to provide scientists with more information on the fish being
discarded at sea.
WWF is also calling for the mandatory use of selective fishing gear.
The use of square mesh panels and large mesh nets in the Scottish fleet has already seen a positive reduction in the amount of non-targeted fish being caught. Yet despite this gear being readily available, take up by the fishing industry has been slow.
Louize Hill adds: 'There are undoubtedly a number of positive steps
being taken around Europe to tackle discards, and ensure a long-term
future for fisheries, but a far greater culture shift is needed to
restore fish stock levels to their former abundance. The upcoming reform of the Common Fisheries Policy is a once in a decade opportunity to ensure that this forward thinking is adopted by all Member States.'
Should fisheries be closed during breeding time to allow stocks to reach more sustainable levels?
