Fishing businesses in the Atlantic, North Sea and Baltic Sea are making record profits thanks to EU sustainability efforts, the European Commission has declared.
There has been a solid recovery of popular fish stocks like North Sea cod, which were severely depleted just a few years ago and this is a sign that the EU Common Fisheries Policy’s focus on sustainable fishing is paying off for both fishermen and fish stocks, explained the Commission.
“When it comes to fisheries, the European Union is hitting our headline targets. More fish stocks are being fished at sustainable levels than ever before,” said European Commissioner Karmenu Vella, responsible for environment, maritime affairs and fisheries.
Profits up
Mr Vella added: “Fishermen targeting these stocks are seeing their profits and salaries go up. We’ve made a priority of the Mediterranean and Black Sea, where overfishing is worst. And where there are teething problems, we are talking to fishermen and scientists to find workable solutions, while keeping our eyes set firmly on our sustainability target.”
Following the Commission’s introduction of responsible catch limits in the Atlantic, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, 53 out of 76 stocks for which data are available are fished sustainably – compared to 44 stocks in 2017 and just five stocks in 2009. For stocks managed wholly by the EU, 97% by volume are being fished at sustainable levels.
In 2017, scientists found only seven of the 60 Mediterranean stocks they assessed to be at healthy levels.
