Surface tensions

With so many fish stocks under pressure, increasing catch levels for one population by 30 per cent might appear catastrophic. But European fishing ministers believe such a move might help tackle two problems. Fishermen in the North Sea will be able to catch more cod this year, but cod fisheries elsewhere around Europe will be further restricted. EU ministers agreed late last month the fish quotas for 2009, allowing catches that environmental campaigners say are as unsustainable as ever. But the argument behind the increased North Sea cod quota is a result of evidence that the severely depleted population was showing some small signs of recovery and data that vast numbers of fish are being discarded back to the sea. Ministers believed an increase in quota could be met almost by retaining previously dumped fish, thus boosting fishermen's income with a minimum impact on fish stocks. The North Sea cod quota rises also require fishermen to now use new types of net that cut down on the numbers of undersized fish and other species that are thrown back in the sea, dead or alive. " We found the always difficult balance, in a good atmosphere, between responsibly and sustainably managing fragile resources and fishermen's interests, " said Michel Barnier, the French agriculture minister who chaired the meeting under the French presidency of the EU. Outside the North Sea, cod quotas are being cut by 25 per cent, as recommended by the European Commission. The Swedish Green MEP, Carl Schlyter, said he would attempt to convince the European Parliament to file a challenge to the decision over North Sea cod-fishing. He said that in 2002 the EU had made a major reform of its common fisheries policy in order to move away from the annual ministerial squabble over fishing quotas. Long-term plans were to be established for the recovery of depleted stocks. The first plan under the new policy was a strategy for North Sea cod, agreed in 2003. According to the plan, quotas for cod in crisis were to be reduced by 15 per cent per year. " Now the ministers have agreed on a new plan, whereby fishing on cod stocks in crisis should be reduced by 20 per cent per year, " he explained. But the Council of Ministers " has intentionally decided that the old rules no longer apply, while the new rules will not enter into …