ICES findings on Baltic cod make grim reading as reductions in fishing activity are called for.
The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has called for some drastic reductions in cod quotas, recommending a 39% reduction in the Eastern Baltic and a massive 88% cut in the Western Baltic region.
‘The poor state of cod stocks in the Western Baltic is deeply worrying,’ said Denmark’s minister of environment and food, Esben Lunde Larsen.
‘We have only just received the ICES figures and will consult with both the industry and stakeholders to discuss the researchers’ conclusions. This is something that will affect many of the area’s fishermen and we take this extremely seriously.’
He commented that the ministry will also discuss the situation with other Baltic nations, with politicians in Denmark and with the EU, as well as consulting with the Danish fishing industry.
While cod appears to be under intense pressure, the same is not true of other stocks as sprat, herring and plaice all seem to be in good shape.
‘I’m delighted with the developments for herring, plaice and especially sprat stocks, and the fact that quotas can be increased,’ Esben Lunde Larsen said. ‘These were the developments we had been waiting for and we are seeing real progress with these species.’
