WWF announced yesterday that it is taking the Council of the European Union to the European Court of Justice for failing to follow their own rules regarding cod fisheries and therefore breaching EU environmental law.
WWF says that it has repeatedly warned The Council of the European Union about the consequences of ignoring scientific advice on fishing quotas.
The organisation says that in December 2006, the Council of the European Union again ignored the advice of ICES, STECF and environmental NGO's and reduced the quotas by 14 per cent in most areas. WWF has therefore decided to take legal action against the Council for a breach of Article 7 of the Cod Recovery Plan. If scientists estimate that the number of mature cod in the sea has fallen below a certain level, and that levels will not recover by the end of the year, an EC Regulation known more widely as the "Cod Recovery Plan" requires the Council to reduce the previous year's quotas by more than 15%.
WWF is asking the Court to order the Council to review its decision on cod quotas, with a view to setting them at a level which will allow stocks to reach precautionary levels as soon as possible. If WWF is successful, the Council will be forced to review the quotas for 2007 and will hopefully take on board ICES' advice when setting quotas in future years. WWF hopes that this would give depleted cod stocks the chance to recover and support a sustainable and profitable industry.
