Wed May 13, 2009 3:46 pm
article in the irish indo,
Scientists are unaware of the state of nearly two-thirds of Europe's fish stocks, the European Commission admitted yesterday.
Last month, the Commission warned that nothing short of a completely new fisheries management system based on scientific evidence would halt years of dangerously depleted stocks and get the struggling fishing industry back on its feet.
Now the Commission says scientists do not even have the information to assess the exact scale of the crisis the industry is facing.Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg blamed inaccurate catch reporting for the situation, but insisted it was not too late to restore the productivity of the seas.
The Commission has routinely blamed fishing fleets for overfishing and governments for failing to enforce catch quota limits agreed annually under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
In April, officials launched a consultation on the CFP's future, insisting the Commission would be seeking the views of the fishermen's leaders and the fishermen themselves as a priority.Mr Borg said yesterday: "The situation created by overfishing is serious, but multi-annual management plans are working, and some stocks are already showing signs of recovery.
"That means that the long-term approach is the way to go and that good management always comes first. I am committed to a sound approach to fisheries, based on long-term planning, scientific advice and dialogue with the sector and capable of restoring the productivity of our oceans."
The Commission says it is determined to ensure the long-term viability of the Common Fisheries Policy for Europe's fishermen, while adapting the existing fleet -- already reduced in size in previous reforms -- to face the reality of smaller catches.
The CFP was last reformed in 2002 and the Commission admits there has been "slow progress" in stock recovery.
- Geoff Meade in Brussels
love that there going to get the views of the very people that created the mess in the first place