EU fish quota talks begin

Talks were to begin in Brussels today on fishing quotas for 2010 with more cutbacks expected in the name of conservation.

The annual carve-up of catch quotas under the Common Fisheries Policy takes place under the shadow of continuing European Commission warnings that endangered fish stocks need more time to recover.

Conservation measures for desperately depleted cod have not delivered the promised revival of supplies – partly because of continued over-fishing exceeding agreed quota limits.

Last year, says the Commission, a greater proportion of available cod was caught than in any year since 1999.

And it warns that more than 80% of EU stocks are over-fished, compared with a global average of 28%.

Based on scientific advice, Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg is recommending cuts of up to a quarter in permitted catches for some species next year.

EU fisheries ministers gathering in Brussels for three days of talks are under pressure to accept 25% quota cuts for “vulnerable” stocks of anglerfish, whiting in the Irish Sea and west of Scotland, Irish Sea sole, and herring in the North and West of Ireland.

For 50 other stocks, cuts of 15% are recommended.

And, for quotas of West of Scotland haddock and sole of the eastern English Channel, the Commission wants “important” reductions to be approved.

The only glimmer of good news is that, while cod is still generally over-fished, spawning stocks of North Sea cod are slowly returning. So a quota increase of 16.5% is on the cards for the UK and other fleets.

The Commission insists it has balanced the scientific advice with the needs of fishermen, but says more belt-tightening is necessary in 2010 if fish stocks are to reach sustainable levels.

The situation has been worsened by the collapse of the annual EU talks with Norway over sharing stocks in the North Sea.

The dispute began when the EU stopped the Norwegian fleet of over 30 boats from fishing for mackerel in the UK part of the North Sea after exceeding the agreed Norwegian quota.

Until the problem is resolved, Scottish and other EU fishing vessels are banned from Norwegian cod, whiting and haddock grounds.