The European commission has proposed closures on commercial
fishing for sea bass in the Atlantic and whiting in the waters west of Scotland
from next year, in order to prevent a collapse in fish stocks.
The total allowable catch (TAC) for cod in the Celtic Sea
will also be cut by 68% under the plan, while sole quotas in the Irish Sea will
be trimmed by a hefty 82%.
The move, to cut sea bass catches from 570 tonnes a year to
zero, follows what the EU calls “very alarming” advice from fisheries
scientists, who found that numbers had fallen below “safe biological limits”.
The same was true for Celtic cod, although cod from the
North Sea which makes up a much higher percentage of British catches is in a
healthier state and will be unaffected.
“Celtic Sea cod could collapse,” without the proposed
limits, one EU official said. “There is a reason why scientists are
recommending such harsh proposals,” the source added. “There are just not
enough fish in the sea.”
The official dismissed any hope that the share of overall
fish catches allocated to the UK could change after Brexit. “This is not on the
table,” the official told the Guardian.
A final decision on next year’s quotas will be taken by EU
ministers at a summit in December. EU sources predicted a “very difficult”
meeting at the council, where ministers traditionally vie to appear strong in
defence of their domestic fishing industries.
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