The WWF UK has welcomed new regulations by the European Commission that should lead to a considerable reduction in the number of fish that are needlessly thrown overboard by fishermen. The regulation, which includes a ban on discarding fish of a marketable size, could throw a lifeline to depleted cod stocks in the North Sea, and fish stocks to the west of Scotland.
WWF UK has been calling on Ministers to introduce a discards policy that limits the actual amount of fish removed from the sea, rather than focussing on the quantity of fish that is landed. The WWF is also calling upon the European Union to deliver a strong enforcement policy, with the introduction of regulations for selective fishing gear in a number of fisheries could potentially reduce the amount of cod, haddock, and whiting caught as ‘bycatch’. The use of selective fishing gear such as square mesh panels has already shown positive results in fisheries throughout Europe.
Fisheries Policy Officer at WWF-UK Giles Bartlett, said –
‘Europe’s fisheries ministers and the European Commission have failed to properly tackle the issue of discards up until now, leaving many European fish stocks, such as those to the west of Scotland, in a dire situation. The discard reduction measures outlined today are very encouraging but must be strictly enforced if they are to succeed. Ultimately we must limit the amount of fish being removed from the sea, not just those which are landed and this needs to be a crucial consideration in the upcoming reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.’
Despite the EU commitment last year to reduce discards to 10%, scientists estimate that by the end of 2008 more than 28 thousand tonnes of cod will have been discarded.
