Norway forces EU to reduce cod discards

Brussels, Belgium - European fishermen will have to apply drastic measures to avoid discarding unwanted fish overboard while fishing cod in the North Sea, as a result of the EU-Norway fisheries agreement reached early this morning.

According to WWF, this is a first necessary step to stop the unnecessary killing of millions of tonnes of untargeted marine species that are caught every year. To make sure such measures are respected, however, severe controls and inspections must be introduced.

As a result of the deal, reached after weeks of negotiations, the European Union and Norway have agreed to increase the total allowable quota (TAC) for cod in the North Sea by 30%, at the condition fishermen will reduce discards through mandatory use of eliminator trawls - a special type of net which allows cod to escape - and other selective gears. Such measures will apply when the quota is almost reached - that is when the discard problem tends to increase. In addition, discards of stocks above minimum landing size will be banned, and closed areas during the spawning season introduced.

The European Union has finally committed to work on a complete ban on discards, already in force in the Norwegian Sea, within the upcoming reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, in 2012.

“We welcome new rules to encourage most selective gears and closed areas during the spawning season. The key point, though, is that these measures are enforced. A quota increase for cod based on less cod being removed from the sea and discarded needs fishermen and governments to work together to make sure rules are applied. Discard remains a problem that needs to be a priority of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy." said Aaron McLoughlin, Head of European Marine Programme at WWF.

WWF urges the European Union to go much further than today’s decision, and require the use of selective gears like eliminator trawls all year round.

As regard other stocks included in the agreement, WWF supports the reduction of quota by 13% for plaice as it is in line with the scientific advice, but regrets that the advice to cut whiting quotas by 67% was ignored - with a cut by only 15%. According to the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES - a scientific body advising the EU) such a limited reduction won’t be enough to restore this fishery which suffers from too high fishing mortality.

The agreed quotas for North Sea cod and related measures to reduce discards will be ratified by the EU Fisheries Ministers at the Council meeting on 18-19 December in Brussels. 

Notes to the editors
• WWF Germany report “Marine Life is not waste” (November 08) shows that every year in the North Sea a third of the annual catch of fish and other marine life is thrown or discarded over the side. 

•  A recent WWF report "Management and Technical Measures in the Norwegian Cod and Groundfisheries” (October 08) highlights key measures adopted by Norway to dramatically reduce discard and illegal fishing

For further information:
Aaron Mc Loughlin, Head of European Marine Programme
WWF European Policy Office
Tel: +32 2 740 09 24
Mobile: +32 472 94 83 17
E-mail: AMcLoughlin@wwfepo.org
 
Stefania Campogianni, Press Officer, WWF European Policy Office
Tel: +32 2 743 88 15
E-mail: scampogianni@wwfepo.org