Sustainable fishing nets quota increases on key species in Europe
Staff Writer |
The UK government achieved agreements supporting UK fishermen and sustainable fishing at the annual EU talks on fishing quotas.
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Increased fishing quotas for some valuable species have been agreed at December EU Fisheries Council today, with stocks recovering after years of the UK’s insistence on limiting catches within sustainable scientific limits.
While challenges remain for some species, the UK Government secured significant quota increases for fishermen around all parts of the UK including North Sea: Cod +16.5%, Whiting +17%, Anglerfish + 20% and Saithe +53%; Irish Sea: Haddock +25% and Nephrops (Langoustines) +8.6%.
Increases were also delivered in Western Channel: Haddock +7% and Sole +20%.
Where the latest scientific evidence supported it, the UK Government also lobbied against unnecessary quota cuts proposed by the European Commission, securing the same quota as last year for many species, including Pollack and Anglerfish in the Celtic Sea and Plaice in the Bristol Channel.
These important rollovers will provide stability for fishermen who rely on these species.
Challenges remain to help reverse the long-term decline of some fish stocks, with the science showing a cut of 38% on cod was necessary in the South West (Celtic Sea) and new fishing restrictions on commercial net fisheries targeting sea bass. This builds on action taken over the last two years.
Next year, sea bass catches by gill net fishermen will also be limited only to a by catch allowance of 250kg per month – a reduction around 80% on last year while hook and line commercial fishermen saw their allowance cut by around 23%.
Other outcomes from the negotiations included securing extra flexibility around where vessels are able to fish. This will remove current constraints around fishing for northern shelf haddock, and provide more choice over fishing grounds, resulting in reduced costs for vessels. ■