Further cuts expected as fishermen continue to ignore quotas

FISHERMEN are still raiding the seas and taking 40% more fish than they are allowed to catch each year in some regions, allegedly putting the survival of several species in doubt.

As a result, the European Commission is seeking further cuts next year, with Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg warning he is completely revising the recovery plan for cod.

He also wants EU member states to agree to a new set of initiatives to tackle the problem of over-fishing that will include even tougher penalties on those caught breaking the rules.

“We are very concerned, especially with the dire situation of cod in the North Sea, and we are not seeing the kind of results we hoped for from the Cod Recovery Plan put in place in 2004,” he said.

“We will propose a review that will look at all aspects and hopefully agree on measures that would be significantly more demanding than what we have now.”

A big part of the problem, he said, was that cod was caught as a by-catch when trawlers are fishing for other species.

Mr Borg outlined proposed fish quota and other measures he will present to fisheries ministers in two weeks’ time, when the quota for each member state will be agreed on.

He proposes making some cuts in fishing possibilities for a number of stocks, including cod, plaice and sole, based on scientific advice.

There is better news for some other species, particularly some of those subject to long-term plans, such as northern hake and Bay of Biscay sole.

The decisions on Total Allowable Catches for the Baltic Sea and deep-sea species were agreed last month and saw substantial cuts, especially for Irish trawlers.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Irish Fishermen described the proposed cuts as massive and said they represented a serious challenge for the Irish negotiating team at the talks in Brussels later this month.

FIF chairman Lorcan Ó Cinnéide said: “It’s all to play for at this point.”

Environment group WWF described the proposal as one of the weakest since the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

Their fisheries policy officer, Carol Phua, said the proposed 25% reduction for cod quotas does not go far enough since scientists have been advising zero catch for the past five years.

“The situation is alarming particularly for cod in the North Atlantic, as not only are high quotas being set, but 40% of the cod catches are unaccounted for. As a solution, WWF has been calling for the deployment of observers on board,” she said.