Chilling Numbers On EU Cod Biomass

Threatened cod continues to decline in E.U. waters despite catch cuts
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
By Raf Casert, Associated Press

BRUSSELS, Belgium — "Cod stocks have sunk to historic lows and are near commercial extinction in many European Union waters despite deep cuts in the fishing fleet and stringent catch quotas, a study released Monday showed. Cod stocks in three key areas — the North Sea, the Irish Sea, and west of Scotland — "are at such low levels that we have to resort to recommending zero catches as a final line in the sand," said the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).

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The Copenhagen-based international council, ICES, said North Sea and Skagerrak cod stocks reached 52,000 metric tons this year, less than one-third of their minimum recommended size.

The most dramatic drop was in the Atlantic waters west of Scotland. The estimated cod stock there stood at 2,500 tons only, while ICES sees 22,000 tons as a minimum recommended stock size. Whiting in the Irish Sea stood at 1,700 tons, while ICES set its mark at 7,000. There, too, ICES calls for a halt in fishing.

"It vindicates the Commission's approach in proposing tough measures to reverse stock depletion. We will now study this advice with great care," said E.U. Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler, who has proposed tougher measures for years only to see E.U. governments step in to dilute them."

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http://www.enn.com/news/2003-10-21/s_9617.asp