Wednesday 19 December 2007

EU Fisheries Ministers have gambled on the future of North Sea cod stocks by deciding to increase fishing quotas by 11 per cent (about 22,000 tonnes) in 2008 and giving the green light to voluntary measures brought forward by fishermen to address the wasteful situation of discards said WWF.

The quota increase proposed by the EU Fisheries Council in Brussels last night is based on early signs of stock recovery. But Ministers have failed to put in place compulsory measures that will enable young fish to remain in the sea and reproduce. WWF warned that cod stocks are not out of trouble yet and the next 12 months will be crucial for determining the fate of this fragile, over-exploited species.

Helen McLachlan, Senior Marine Policy Officer at WWF Scotland said: "This is the fishing industry's big chance to show they can deliver on their claims of being able to fish more selectively and sustainably. If successful the 2008 measures will give the much needed break that cod needs and help the stock replenish. However if the fishermen fail to implement cod avoidance plans, we will have wasted the only chance at recovery since 1997. The stakes are high - let's hope they can deliver."

The Council approved the concept of allowing fishermen to propose "tailor-made measures" that would best suit them. These voluntary measures, some of which are already being piloted in Scottish waters, include the temporary closure of areas where cod are abundant or spawning, and the use of more selective fishing gear. This is the first time such a conservation credit-scheme has been approved by the Commission and demonstrates a willingness to prevent the wasteful practice of discarding whereby huge quantities of fish caught over the quota limit are thrown overboard. Recent EU figures show that fishermen are throwing between 40 and 60 per cent of their catch overboard, an action described as "immoral" by the UK Fisheries Minister Jonathan Shaw MP.

The greater power Scotland will have over fisheries management, how many days fleets spend at sea and the extent to which cod conservation measures are adopted gives Scotland's fishing industry the power to give cod a chance of survival, believes WWF Scotland.

Helen McLachlan commented: "Whether this deal will actually lead to fishermen "avoiding" cod at sea remains to be seen. As the scheme is voluntary, it will only prove to be effective if enough boats adopt the plans. This year we saw the first glimmer of hope for North Sea cod in many years. But let's not kid ourselves - these are critical days for cod."

WWF also criticised the minimal reduction of quotas, ranging from 8 to 18 per cent, agreed for other cod populations, such as the Kattegat, Irish Sea, and West Scotland for which scientists had advised not to fish at all. The real failure was not to accompany any cuts with agreed measures to improve selectivity and avoid catching unwanted cod in the first place.