Crunch meeting of future of EU cod recovery

The Symposium, one of the most critical debates ever held on EU Cod Recovery, is set to offer findings that will inform the RACs’s advice to the EU Fisheries Commission on their soon to be revised Cod Recovery Programme.

The Symposium’s line-up of world-class scientists and environmentalists, who will join forces with fishing industry representatives and other RAC stakeholders in Edinburgh next month, has led to unprecedented demand from delegates for Symposium bookings. As a result, event organisers have been forced to close further delegate registration.

The Symposium’s two-day programme will be officially opened with a message from Commissioner Borg, followed by the Symposium keynote speech from Mr. Fokion Fotiadis, the EU Commission’s recently appointed Director General of Fisheries.

Other speakers include:

• Ernesto Penas Lado, DG Fisheries

• Jose Rizo Martin, DG Environment

• Martin Pastoors, Chairman, International Council for the Exploration of the Sea’s (ICES) Advisory Committee on Fishery Management

• Chris Reid, UK science environmentalist

• George Rose, Canadian fisheries scientist

• Peter Gullestad, Norwegian expert

• Tom Pickerell, World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

During the Symposium, stakeholders will be given every opportunity to discuss the issues raised by speakers and to comment on why Cod has not recovered in their area and on what action should be taken to improve stocks in European waters.

Day two of the meeting will consider the future of the Cod industry and will highlight future management objectives and measures for Cod Recovery.

Delegates will participate in a series of working groups to cover issues critical to any future, workable Cod Recovery plan. Ranked high in workshop discussions will be how closer co-operation can be established between fishers, scientists and managers. The need to avoid inefficiency in the management regime will also be highlighted as will the future role the RACs might play in any new Cod Recovery plan.

Symposium delegate registration has closed due to unprecedented subscription for delegate places. However, Symposium organisers are offering a post-Symposium Report to any interested parties. Reports will be obtainable from either the Secretariat of the North Sea RAC ann.bell@aberdeenshire.gov.uk, or the Secretariat of the North Western Waters RAC nwwrac@bim.ie. A full and detailed document on the EU Cod Recovery Programme is available at www.nsrac.org