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The Advisory Committee on Fishery Management (ACFM) is recommending a ban on North Sea cod fisheries. The species could be close to total collapse.
ACFM is also recommending the closure of haddock and whiting fisheries, as cod is often caught together with these species. ACFM is responsible on behalf of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) for providing scientific information and advice on living resources and their harvesting in the North East Atlantic and North Sea. According to ACFM, North Sea cod is outside safe biological limits. The cod spawning stock has been below the precautionary limit since 1984 and was at a historical low in 2001.
ICES points out that there is a possibility of collapse of the North Sea cod stocks. Recruitment has been below average since 1987, with the exception of the 1996 year-class. The 1997 and 2000 year-classes are the lowest on record. Low cod stocks, low recruitment and high fish mortality have led ICES to recommend a full stop to North Sea cod fisheries.
The recommendation incorporates direct fishing for cod as well as fisheries where cod are caught as bycatch. Haddock and whiting are also outside safe biological limits. Since cod, haddock and whiting are caught together, ICES is also recommending the closure of haddock and whiting fisheries.
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