Extent of fishing crisis unknown, says European Commission

Scientists are unaware of the state of nearly two-thirds of Europe's fish stocks, the European Commission admitted this afternoon.

Last month, the Commission warned that nothing short of a completely new fisheries management system based on scientific evidence would halt years of dangerously depleted stocks and get the struggling fishing industry back on its feet.

Now the Commission says scientists do not even have the information to assess the exact scale of the crisis the industry is facing.

Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg blamed inaccurate catch reporting for the situation, but insisted it was not too late.

The Commission has routinely blamed fishing fleets for overfishing and governments for failing to enforce catch quota limits agreed annually under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

In April, officials launched a consultation on the CFP's future, insisting the Commission would be seeking the views of the fishermen's leaders and the fishermen themselves as a priority.

Mr Borg said today: "The situation created by overfishing is serious, but multi-annual management plans are working, and some stocks are already showing signs of recovery.

"That means that the long-term approach is the way to go and that good management always comes first. I am committed to a sound approach to fisheries, based on long-term planning, scientific advice and dialogue with the sector - and capable of restoring the productivity of our oceans and seas."

The Commission says it is determined to ensure the long-term viability of the Common Fisheries Policy for Europe's fishermen, while adapting the existing fleet - already reduced in size in previous reforms - to face the reality of smaller catches.

The CFP was last reformed in 2002 and the Commission admits there has been "slow progress" in stock recovery: "One of the reasons for this is that fishing opportunities consistently have been set at levels which were too high for the fish stocks to sustain.

"As a result, more than 80% of EU stocks are over-fished, compared with a global average of 28%."

The Commission is now proposing to tighten up the annual fixing of EU fish catch quotas, giving the industry and governments until the end of July to submit their views.

They will be considered as part of formal proposals in the autumn, with a view to agreeing new rules by the end of the year.

A Commission statement said: "The contribution of EU fisheries to the European economy and food supply is far smaller today than it was in the past. Even more worryingly, the status of some 59% of stocks is unknown to scientists, largely due to inaccurate catch reporting."

Later this year the Commission is likely to propose that annual catch quotas in areas with depleted stocks should routinely be reduced by at least 20% a year. Where stocks are recovering, catch quotas could be increased by up to 25% a year.