Most stocks exploited unsustainably, millions of nephrops discarded and endangered spurdogs among the bycatch

Following a preliminary assessment, the Friend of the Sea Advisory Board has not authorised further audit of the nephrops trawl fishery in ICES areas VIa and VII as it is not compliant with their main criteria and FAO Guidelines Art 30, which requires that “the stock under consideration is not overfished”.

Stocks in the areas have declined from 40 to 60% over the past two years and according to ICES (2009 Advice) they “are being exploited unsustainably”, “are overfished”; and in some areas, such as the Porcupine Bank, the ICES “advice now calls for a reduction in catches to the lowest possible level”.

In the Minch fisheries alone, the fishing method – bottom trawling – results in70+ million undersized nephrops (25% of the catch) and millions of cod, haddock, whiting, hake, monkfish and megrim being discarded (2006, ICES).

In 2007, fishing trials indicated an average of 50% discards; spurdog, a species on the IUCN endangered species Red List, are a noted bycatch.

ICES (Advice 2009) confirms that the seabed in some areas is impacted more than seven times per year by the bottom trawlers for nephrops.

“We hope the fishery will in the future improve its management and lower its impact by promoting alternative fishing methods” comments Paolo Bray, Director of the international eco-label scheme, but concluded -

“However none of the bottom trawling fisheries in the area currently stand a chance to be certified Friend of the Sea”.

Original article at http://foxyurl.com/LlP

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