The annual December Fisheries Council starts in Brussels this week (21st/22nd), whereby Fisheries Ministers from EU Member States decide on the Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for fish in the North Sea, West of Scotland and the Irish Sea which surrounds Wales.

Based on independent scientific advice WWF has recommended that cod fisheries in the North Sea, West of Scotland and Irish Sea be closed to restore stocks – this advice has consistently been ignored by Ministers.

Indeed for the past fifteen years, political pressure has led to total allowable catches (TACs) being set an average of 30 per cent above the recommendations made by the scientists at the International Council for the Exploraqtion of the Seas (ICES).

Welsh TV chef Dudley Newbury and Bryn Williams, who beat off stiff competition to create a fish course for the banquet to celebrate the Queen's 80th birthday are concerned that if fish stocks are not properly managed it could result in fish being brought in from further afield such as Russia.

Dudley Newbery commented: "Fish are a great healthy option for our dinner plates but unfortunately the mismanagement of our seas has resulted in the majority of stocks being over fished especially cod. If Welsh fisheries collapse, it is not just the fisherman who will suffer. Consumers and the environment will pay the price as fish will be brought in from further a field and chefs will not be able to source high quality local fish."

Bryn Williams, a renowned ambassador for using locally sourced Welsh fish in his recipes added: "Wales has a great heritage of food from its seas, in fact I would argue we have the best shell fish in Europe. I take great pride in showcasing the quality of Welsh fish on my menu.

Indeed, the pan-fried turbot and cockles I prepared for the Queen were all sourced in north Wales.
He added: "My top tip for people who care about fish stocks is to vary the fish they eat and not just to stick to cod. Instead, look for local quality fresh fish such as Welsh mackerel, shell fish and herring.

Also try to buy fish carrying the Marine Stewardship Council 'tick' logo which indicates it has come from well managed fisheries such as the Burry Inlet Cockle Fishery, near Swansea which has been certified."

Another concern for WWF is the substantial bycatch of cod by certain Scampi fisheries (Nephrops) due to the small mesh size of the nets. Considerable numbers of fish are caught as bycatch, up to 70% of which are discarded as the fish are below the minimum landing size. Off the coast of Norway 61 per cent of the total cod catch by scampi nets was discarded between 1995 and 2000. Indeed it is estimated that the entire North Sea scampi fishery could account for almost half of cod removed from the water.

"This issue is making cod recovery fail" said Dr Tom Pickerell, Fisheries Policy Officer for WWF . "We can't just reduce the total allowable catch, this will only lead to more cod being thrown back dead. Discarding is not a new problem, the solutions are there, but we need political will to implement them."

For example, WWF believe that one solution could be bycatch quotas. In addition WWF strongly recommends that all fisheries with high bycatch should be required to use technical measures - such as sorting grids and escape panels – to increase the selectivity of their fishing gear.

Around half of all plaice caught are discarded overboard, usually dead, as a result of bycatch. The North Sea plaice and sole fishery, which accounts for the vast majority of catches, is the most wasteful of all. According to a 2000 report, up to 80 per cent of the plaice catch is discarded in some areas.