EU ministers debate drastic fishing cuts
European Union governments will today face calls for radical cuts in cod catches and the scrapping of hundreds of boats in response to dire warnings over the state of the continent’s fish reserves.
“The state of the stocks is catastrophic,” warned EU fisheries spokesman Gregor Kreuzhuber. “If you continue to fish like we have in the last 10 years, then in some years there won’t be fish in some waters.”
The European Commission is proposing cuts of up to 80% in cod catches in areas such as the North Sea, the west coast of Scotland and the channel between Denmark and Norway where scientists say the species is in danger of extinction after years of overfishing.
Experts from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea had proposed a moratorium on all cod fishing in the worst-hit areas, but the Commission backed away from that fearing a backlash from governments.
Fishermen’s leaders said the proposed cuts could also have disastrous consequences.
“A complete closure, or an 80% reduction in fishing effort would have the effect of wiping out the fishing industry,” warned Doug Beveridge, assistant chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations in Grimsby, Lincs.
Today’s meeting will give governments a first chance to discuss the commission’s cut backs.
Although no decisions are expected until a further meeting starting on December 16, the talks should indicate how far governments are willing to accept conservation measures in the face of opposition from fishing lobbies.
The Commission is also seeking cuts in quota for other species such as hake and haddock.
In the longer term, the EU head office is seeking to redirect almost £400m (€625m) aid to encourage fishermen to scrap their boats, change jobs or accept early retirement.
Much of the money will come from existing programmes which are used to modernise fishing fleets – a subsidy denounced as absurd yesterday by the World Wildlife Fund.
“Today’s EU fishing subsidies are environmentally damaging, unfair and on the increase,” said WWF’s European Policy Director Tony Long. “The EU has a chance to reverse this ludicrous trend.”
The EU Commission also wants much better enforcement of controls, seeking improved satellite monitoring of vessels to prevent illegal catches, changes in net shapes and sizes to prevent unwanted and unnecessary catches and tougher sanctions for skippers who break the rules.
EU spokesman Kreuzhuber warned the tough measures were needed to prevent European fishermen facing the same fate as those in Canada where the once-thriving cod grounds off Newfoundland have yet to recover despite a 10-year fishing ban.
