Fish discards to be banned by the EU – at last

[The Straight Story]

Fish discards to be banned by the EU – at last
March 1st, 2011
Author: Jeff Taylor

In a very welcome move it is expected that EU ministers will ban the horrendous practice of deep sea fishermen being forced to throw fish that do not fit into their allowed quotas back into the sea, with most of the fish already being dead. A hugely wasteful and damaging thing to do as well as a crime against the environment.


The industry throws back about 1 million tons of fish a year in this manner. For example, look at this from STV Lossiemouth, “Scottish vessels were forced to discard 28,000 tonnes of fish in 2009, representing around 25% of the total whitefish catch at a value of around £33million“. This policy change will be the biggest amendment to fisheries policy in 40 years, but that it has taken this long for the EU to get to this position is also a crime in its own right.

The way ahead maybe to force fisherman to keep and land everything they catch. But this, say the fishermen, may mean a real possibility of returning from a voyage with a virtually worthless catch putting livelihoods at risk.

Fishing is in some ways different from other industries in that the production of the deep sea fish is totally down to nature. The fish are also free to go where they will with no fences to keep them in. Because of that fishermen will just take what is there where they fish, they do not cultivate or feed them. Currently they can also keep throwing fish out until they get the quota of the fish they need.



http://www.economicvoice.com/fish-discards-to-be-banned-by-the-eu-at-last/50017038#ixzz1FNk2ycDl