Brussels, 09/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 9 July, the European Commission adopted a regulation banning vessels flying the Polish flag from fishing cod in the Eastern Baltic. Poland has far exceeded its 2007 quota, and has failed to check, as it is required to do, the accuracy of declared catches.
According to the data available to Fisheries and Maritime Policy Commissioner Joe Borg and his team, after inspectors had been dispatched, Polish catches could, in fact, be three times higher that officially declared catches. Poland, therefore, must immediately close its cod fishery in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea. Germany has already closed its fishery, and Sweden is about to do likewise. Once 80% of a quota has been caught, member states are required to submit weekly reports of catches to the Commission.
Of the 2007 European quota of 40,805 tonnes of cod in the Eastern Baltic, Poland was allocated 10,794 tonnes, Sweden 9,497 tonnes and Germany 3,729 tonnes. Denmark was allocated 9,374 tonnes, which it will continue to fish until the volume is reached. The regulation banning Poland from fishing for cod dopes not affect the Western Baltic. (lc)