Cod stocks are at an all-time low, environmentalists warn.
On the occasion of the forthcoming start of negotiations between the EU and the United Kingdom on catch volumes, environmentalists have called for an end to overfishing. Some of the shared fish stocks are severely depleted and overfished, several environmental organizations said on Monday.
According to a recent report by the Center for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture (Cefa), around almost two-thirds of UK fish stock catch limits in 2021 were above science-recommended levels. It was particularly bad for the cod, it said in the joint statement. From the North Sea to Scotland to the Celtic Sea, its stocks are sometimes at an all-time low. When the cod is in dire straits, it’s time to comply with the law, a Blue Marine Foundation representative said. According to the information, a stock decreased by up to 92 percent.
After Brexit, the EU and the UK agreed to hold annual negotiations to set quotas and catches for the following year. It depends, among other things, on international discussions, scientific recommendations and the economic situation of fishermen, how large the catches turn out to be. On the EU side, the talks are being led by the EU Commission.
(APA/DPA)