downtoearth-subscribe

IN FOCUS

Fishing ministers of the European Union (EU) arrived at a consensus end 1996, which was marked by constant bickering over fishing quotas. After a debate on proposals made by the European Commis-sion (EC), ministers agreed to make moderate cuts in fish catch quotas for 1997. "The reductions were not that big, but for the first time there was unanimous agreement that there is over-fishing and over-exploitation (of fish stocks in European waters),' said an EU official.

The ministers decided to make reductions in total allowable catches (TACS) on 30 stocks including cod, mackerel, North Sea herring, plaice and sole. TACS are decided for certain stocks in particular areas, while quotas are the TACS given to a particular member state after considering its past fishing records. In effect, apart from herring and mackerel, for which stringent conservation measures have already been taken, the quotas vary only slightly from last year's figures, said the ministers.

Emma Bonino, the EU commissioner for fisheries, pressed for larger reductions arguing that some fish stocks in EU waters were depleted and that it was essential to implement these cuts to protect the future of the fishing industry. Dilution of the proposed cuts would eventually lead to fewer fish stocks, harming the fisherfolk in the long run, she said. The EC was dealt a major blow when its proposal to impose a TAC on bluefish tuna in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, and on swordfish in the Atlantic, was rejected. It was strongly opposed by Greece and Italy as a TAC has never been imposed in the Mediterranean.

All EU members except Belgium and Sweden supported the final pact. While the former wanted more quotas for North Sea sole, the latter argued for an increase in quotas for cod. The UK was jubilant as there were only minimal cuts in British quotas for this year.

Related Content