It has become an event almost as traditional as Christmas itself. Each year, just before the holidays, the European Union鈥檚 fisheries ministers gather to hash out the next year鈥檚 permitted catches in EU waters.
And each year, the politicians find themselves snagged between the demands of scientists to protect stocks 鈥� particularly cod 鈥� and those of fishermen to protect their livelihoods. (See, for example, our stories on the meeting from 2004 and 2003.)
The 2006 meeting proved no different, reaching a middle-ground compromise that pleased neither camp. The EU Fisheries Minister Joe Borg said: 鈥淭he result was a proposal that has been severely criticised by all sides for being too drastic for some and too weak for others.鈥� He argues the new quotas represent a 鈥済radual but sustained approach to delivering sustainable fisheries鈥�.
Advertisement
But Tom Pickerell, at wildlife campaign group WWF, said: 鈥淭he scientists must wonder why they bother with their surveys. It amazes me that world-class survey results are treated with such disdain, while anecdotal views from [fishermen] with vested interests in maintaining quotas are often given credence. We will now need a miracle to save cod.鈥�
David Read, Vice President of the Royal Society 鈥� the UK national academy of science 鈥� added: 鈥淵et again we have seen scientific advice on cod quotas being compromised by political decisions. Given the already alarming condition of stocks, European Fisheries Ministers should be clear that they may be presiding over the total collapse of cod in the Atlantic. And if this does happen, we can鈥檛 be sure that there is any possibility of recovery.鈥�
A major study, published in the journal Science in November 2006 predicted that all commercial fisheries may die out by 2050.
No ban plans
Before the meeting, EU鈥檚 scientific advisers 鈥� the International Committee for the Exploration of the Sea 鈥� called for a complete ban on cod fishing in Europe, as they have since at least 2002 (see Cod fishing ban needed in Europe). The European Commission then proposed a 25% cut.
In the end, ministers agreed a 20% cut in waters to the west of the UK, 14% in the North Sea and 15% elsewhere. The number of days allowed for cod fishing was also reduced by between 7% and 10% depending on the mesh size of the net used.
Borg said there were indications that more juvenile cod are present than in 2006: 鈥淭his is the first indication that there is a recovery in cod,鈥� he said. WWF say the key issue of cod bycatch has not been dealt with 鈥� these are cod caught in nets trawling for other species and often thrown back dead.
For other fisheries, the following quota changes were agreed:
聲 increases in quotas for prawns, haddock, mackerel and monkfish
聲 12% increase in Bay of Biscay sole
聲 20% increase in northern hake
聲 limited lifting of ban on anchovy fishing
聲 12% decrease in plaice
聲 10% decrease in tuna in the Mediterranean
