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EU bans trawling for cod in Baltic waters until September
15th April 2003
BRUSSELS, Belgium — In an effort to protect threatened fish stocks, the European Union on Monday banned fishers from trawling for cod and flatfish in E.U. Baltic Sea waters until September.
The E.U. said it was seeking talks with non-E.U. Baltic nations to ensure a complete ban.
"Urgent action is necessary," said E.U. Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler. "These catches pose a real threat to the conservation and rebuilding of cod stocks."
The ban was to have come into effect June 1 for three months but will now be enforced from Tuesday to protect young fish.
According to the E.U., fishers using trawls, bottom seines, and similar nets scoop up large quantities of young, undersized fish and then discard them.
Faced with declining fish stocks in waters around Europe, the E.U. has been tightening restrictions on fishing of several species, notably cod. Such measures have often met with strong resistance from fishing lobbies, but the E.U. said the latest restrictions were introduced after close consultation with the fishing sector.
Source: Associated Press
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