Fisheries chief calls for changes
The European Union's fisheries chief says fishing practices have to change drastically as soon as possible to safeguard ever-dwindling stocks.
EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg says the annual fight by member states to win the largest catch quotas and fishing rights rewarded "narrow-minded, short-term decision making," frustrating environmentalists and the fishing industry.
To counter that, Borg proposed an overall review of practices on how sustainable fishing in European waters should be introduced. His proposal will need the backing of EU governments.
The EU needs to move fast on a new way to approach fishing since such dinnertime favourites like cod in the North Sea have dropped by three quarters in 30 years and bluefin tuna, once the pride of the Mediterranean, has seen stocks drop by 80% over the same time.
And each year fisheries ministers reject dire warning from scientists calling for deep cuts in quotas to make sure the fish can replenish enough to allow more fishermen to catch them.
Instead, more leeway is given to cut into vital stocks. On top of that, the EU has failed to come up with a good system to curtail illegal catches which further adds to the depletion of EU waters.
"In its current form, the Common Fisheries Policy does not encourage responsible behaviour by either fishermen or politicians," said Borg. "The management tools we use reward narrow-minded, short-term decision making."
Decades of political bartering between such fishing nations as Spain, Britain and France have made sure that the current EU fleet, reduced as it is, can still catch up to three times the maximum sustainable yield. It has left several species in key EU waters on the verge of commercial extinction.
"That is why I have proposed a full review" of the EU's policy, said Borg.
The proposal now goes to the EU ministers for approval but an overall decision is not expected before next year.
