European ministers agree ban on discarding fish
A ban on the dumping of unwanted fish catches is set to be phased in from January.
European ministers have agreed a timetable for ending the discarding of unwanted fish, starting in January 2014.
At the moment, almost a quarter of fish are thrown back dead into European waters, either because fishermen have exceeded their quota of a certain species, the fish are too small, or they are the wrong species.
From January next year, fishermen will no longer be able to discard pelagic species such as herring and whiting. This will be extended to Baltic species in January 2015, and white fish species, including those in our waters, from January 2016.
Mediterranean countries successfully lobbied for an exemption where they can still throw away 9% of fish, falling to 7% four years later.
There is also the possibility that some unwanted catches may be donated to charities.
The exact specifics of the deal are still to be debated and agreed by the European Parliament, as part of a wider reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.
Nonetheless, it’s a victory for campaigns such as Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s Fish Fight, which have called for an end to the practice.
More on fish
Comments
Be the first to comment
Do you want to comment on this article? You need to be signed in for this feature