Resolving the issue of discards in European fisheries is key to recovering depleted fish stocks such as cod, a new WWF report reveals.
As important negotiations take place on fishing opportunities for 2009, the report suggests the EU take the lead from Norway on how to protect and manage cod in a sustainable manner, thus ensuring a successful and profitable fishery in the future.
Last year more than 8,000t of North Sea cod was thrown overboard by fishermen. WWF, the conservation organisation believes fragile North Sea cod stocks will only recover through implementing mandatory technical measures, including the use of more selective gears to avoid catching cod in the first place, and the avoidance of fishing in areas with large concentrations of cod.
The WWF Norway report shows that a number of these technical measures to reduce fish mortality are already being put into practice in Norway with positive results. These include a ban on discards, the mandatory use of selective fishing gears such as sorting grids to minimise cod bycatch, and the closure of key spawning areas. Consequently, the Barents Sea now holds the largest cod stock in the world, providing stability to the Norwegian fishing industry.
Giles Bartlett, fisheries policy officer at WWF-UK said: “Cod stocks can recover if the right measures are applied so we need real political leadership to tackle the situation with the urgency that is needed.
Norway shows us that sustainable and profitable fisheries can work and it is about time the EU followed their lead. We can no longer rely on voluntary measures to solve the problems of discards.”
Mr Bartlett adds: “This year fishermen were given the opportunity to prove they can fish more selectively and sustainably. But scientific advice shows that the rate of discarding is too high and the voluntary bycatch reduction measures used so far have not radically reduced the problem. Norway’s successful fisheries give them an opportunity to present a strong case for tackling discards at the annual EU Norway bilateral negotiations. North Sea cod stocks are still in recovery so it’s vital that other European countries take note and implement the solutions that are proven to reduce discards.”
