Brussels, 15/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), which advisees the European Commission on preparing total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas, will be publishing a report on Friday 18 October on the status and perspectives of North East Atlantic fish stocks. In a press release ICES sent out a positive message on North Sea cod and Norway pout, and good news on Norwegian spring spawning herring. The news is not so optimistic, however, concerning blue whiting and anchovy in the Bay of Biscay.
'Our scientific surveys show that the number of young fish has increased, although only to half of the long-term average,' explained an ICES expert on North Sea cod, Martin Pastoors, a fish stock that slumped alarmingly from the end of the 1990s onwards. He continued: 'These young fish could contribute substantially to the recovery of the North Sea cod stock. We also observe a decrease in mortality, which is a welcome signal in response to the management efforts from the past year (stock recovery plans with lower quotas and fewer authorised days at sea each year, Ed.). But it is not enough. We recommend constraining catches in 2008 to less than 50% of the 2006 catches. And this should include measures to constrain discards and illegal catches.'
The Norwegian spring spawning herring stock in the Northeastern Atlantic remains at a high level. ICES estimates that the spawning stock size is around 12 million tonnes. 'The fishing pressure on the stock is low and therefore the outlook is positive,' explains ICES. It agrees with the re-opening of Norway pout fishing in 2008 in the North Sea, following several years of closure. The blue whiting stock is declining rapidly due to a much lower supply of young fish and a fishing pressure that is not sustainable. ICES recommends larger reductions in catches than have been agreed by the management bodies. The scientists confirm the bad news for the stocks of anchovy in the Bay of Biscay. The number of young fish in 2006 and 2007 has been very low and ICES recommends keeping the fishery closed in 2008.
The first indications provided by ICES 'confirm that our efforts and sacrifices' are paying off with certain stocks,' commented EU Fisheries Commissioner Jo Borg: 'This clearly shows that when implemented correctly, reduced quotas and fishing effort translate directly in to lower fishing pressure, which in turn contributes greatly to the rebuilding of depleted fish stocks. Our long-term management approach is working.' (L.C.)