Commenting on today's announcement of the EU fishing quotas, which has flown in the face of science by allowing an increase in the amount of North Sea cod which can be caught, Greenpeace oceans campaigner Willie Mackenzie said:

"The EU's own scientists have said that North Sea cod stocks are in such trouble that the quota must be reduced. And yet, by ignoring the scientists and announcing an increase in this quota, these bungling bureaucrats are displaying breathtaking stupidity.

"Today's announcement is disastrous for the fishing industry. The cod quota could literally lead to fishermen fishing themselves out of a job, because these catch levels could see an end to North Sea cod.

"It's clear that these quota decisions have to be taken out of the hands of fisheries ministers if there is to be any chance of real recovery for Europe's decimated fish stocks."

Earlier this week, Greenpeace attempted to shut down the EU Council Building in the heart of Brussels, forcing away dozens of politicians who were due to attend the annual fisheries quota meeting

Almost two hundred Greenpeace volunteers blockaded all the entrances and constructed a 30-metre long wall, which stood over 2-metres high, blocking the main entrance. They sprayed it with the words SHUT DOWN UNTIL FISH STOCKS RECOVER.

For more information, contact the Greenpeace press office on 020 7865 8255.

Annual fish quota talks in disarray

Environmental campaigners have today shut down the EU Council Building in the heart of Brussels, forcing away dozens of politicians who were due to attend the annual fisheries quota meeting.

Almost two hundred Greenpeace volunteers have blockaded all the entrances to the vast structure, preventing fisheries ministers from holding their annual meeting to decide quotas for how much cod and other fish can be caught in European waters next year. If the meeting goes ahead, Greenpeace claim that the ministers will once again impose fishing quotas which are pushing depleted stocks closer towards extinction.

Around fifty of the campaigners have constructed a 30-metre long wall, which will stand over 2-metres high, blocking the main entrance. They have sprayed it with the words SHUT DOWN UNTIL FISH STOCKS RECOVER.

The other entrances are being blocked with metal fences which are weighted down to prevent them being moved.

Anyone who wants to leave the building is being allowed to do so, but Greenpeace insist they will not allow anyone in.

The campaigners fear that, if fishing for species like cod is allowed to continue at the present unsustainable levels, then such fish could be wiped out in the North Sea and other areas. They are calling not only for a halt to unsustainable cod fishing, but also for large areas of the oceans to become protected as ‘marine reserves’.

Politicians across Europe have consistently ignored the advice of their own scientists – the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas – for the last seven years, setting fishing quotas above recommendations. Earlier this year, the European Commission admitted that around 80 per cent of fish stocks are outside ‘known safe biological limits’, meaning they could be heading towards extinction (1), while North Sea cod stocks have been reduced by ninety per cent since the start of the 1970s (2). Yet the UK fisheries minister, Jonathan Shaw, has called for an increase in the amount of cod which can be caught.

Willie Mackenzie, Greenpeace oceans campaigner in Brussels, said:

“Every year, these bungling bureaucrats preside over the decimation of Europe’s fish stocks, ignore the advice of their own scientists and set fishing quotas which will only push species like cod in the North Sea further towards extinction.

“By stopping this meeting, we’re stopping these politicians yet again making a decision which will be bad news for conserving fish stocks and devastating for the fishing industry.

“Fisheries ministers have completely failed to conserve fish stocks, and their responsibilities should be taken from them. Environment ministers must step in to protect cod and defend the oceans, starting by listening to the scientific advice. They must also establish a network of large-scale, fully protected marine reserves.”

For more information, contact the Greenpeace press office on 020 7865 8255.

Notes:

(1) Link.

(2) Cod stocks in the North Sea are at around one-tenth of levels at the start of the 1970s (link).

(3) The European Commission has calculated that catches between 2003 and 2007 were, on average, set about 50 per cent above the scientifically recommended level. (COM (2007) 295).

(4) ICES advice is that a total of 22,000 tonnes of cod can be caught in the North Sea in 2008. Taking into account discards and other removals, this would require the total allowable catch to be set at around 12-15,000 tonnes, approximately half that of 2007.