Brussels, 21/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - Yet another study has been published showing the disastrous way the European Union manages fishing and protection of fish resources.
German scientists Rainer Froese and Alexander Proelâ who produced the study “Rebuilding fish stocks no later than 2015: will Europe meet the deadline” noted the legal obligation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to maintain or restore fish stocks to levels that are capable of producing maximum sustainable yield (MSY). A deadline of 2015 has been agreed for achieving this MSY target. The study shows that, if fishing pressure remains unchanged, 91% of European fish and shellfish stocks will remain below this objective.
The biologists call on European fisheries ministers to drastically reduce fishing pressure and to put a complete halt to fishing for certain species that are threatened with extinction. However, even if fishing were halted in 2010, 22% of stocks are so depleted that is will be impossible for them to rebuild by 2015, the scientists say. If current trends continue, “Europe will miss the 2015 deadline by more than 30 years”, the study laments. The conclusion of the study is that the EU will not meet the United Nations law of the sea requirements, which “may constitute a breach of the precautionary principle of European Community law”.
To drive home its point, Oceana, an organisation active in protection of the oceans, says that fish catches could be 80% higher than they are today if the EU had taken proper steps to manage fishing activities and the resource. Over the last 20 years, 78% of scientific recommendations on total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas have been ignored by the EU Council of Ministers which, every year, sets fishing possibilities, Oceana also points out. (L.C./transl.rt)