Brussels, 22/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Commission and Norway agreed on the new technical measures that must be taken from 1 January 2002 to allow depleted North Sea cod stocks to recover. It is mainly a matter of increasing the minimum mesh size of towed nets used to fish demersal species from 100 to 120 mm, in the aim of preventing young fish from being caught. Norway is also expected to temporarily close an area for industrial fishing. The Commission will soon take up these technical measures in a proposal of regulation. This decision will be the second stage in a strategy that began last February with the adoption of emergency measures. At the end of the year, the Commission will present a multiannual plan for recovery of cod stocks in the area.
Derogations will however apply concerning the increased mesh size: - Community vessels fishing cod, haddock and whiting may, until end 2002, use nets whose mesh size will be between 110 and 119 mm, on condition that the authorised catch percentages are respected; - the use of dermersal nets, whose mesh size ranges from 110 mm and 119 mm, will be authorised by vessels fishing saithe. Commissioner Franz Fischler pointed out, moreover, that the EU was preparing to review fishing conditions for saithe in the light of scientific opinion on the state of stocks.