Brussels, 20/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - The state of fish stocks is improving in the North-East Atlantic but the situation in the Mediterranean is getting worse. This is the condensed outcome of a seminar in Brussels on 17 September, organised by the European Commission on fish stocks in EU waters.
Carmen Fernández of ICES (International Council for Exploration of the Sea) explained that fish mortality through fishing had sharply dropped in the North-East Atlantic in recent years and fish stocks had greatly improved, although some stocks were still facing problems. Experts Max Cardinale and Giacomo Chato Osio explained that knowledge about fish stocks in the Mediterranean and Black Sea had improved sharply and between 94% and 95% of the fish stocks analysed are being over-fished. A reduction in fish mortality through fishing of between 45% and 51% is needed to make the current total allowable catches (TAC) sustainable, explained the experts, calling for a TAC system for small pelagic to be implemented. (LC/transl.fl)