2008 to be record cod discard year

Thanks to irresponsible fishing practices and lack of controls 2007 was a record year for cod discard rates in the North Sea. Fishermen landed 24 thousand tonnes of cod in the North Sea and discarded overboard nearly the same amount – 23 thousand tonnes.

Despite the EU commitment last year to reduce discards to 10%,  scientists report that by the end of 2008 discard rates will be even higher than 2007.

The lack of political will to implement ‘hard’ solutions calls into question the recent increase in cod TAC (total allowable quota) which was founded on a commitment to reduce fish mortality by 25% through the obligatory use of selective gears, a ban on discarding marketable fish and the closure of areas during the spawning season.

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