October 10th, 2017
Intrafish: EU ministers confirm 2018 TACs for Baltic cod – Campaigners instantly slam the decision
European Union Agriculture and Fisheries Council ministers agreed to set total allowable catches (TAC) for western Baltic cod and eastern cod, and the TACs are already being met with criticism by campaigners.
The NGO “Our Fish” slammed the decision by EU fisheries ministers to set 2018 western Baltic cod quotas four times higher than cautious scientific advice during an all-night AGRIFISH meeting in Luxembourg on Monday.
After hours of deliberations that continued until after 6 a.m., ministers agreed to set the TAC for western Baltic cod at 5,597 metric tons, while the TAC for eastern Baltic cod was set at 28,388 metric tons.
According to Our Fish the western quota is four times higher than the most cautious scientific advice, and the eastern almost 4,000 metric tons higher than scientific advice
“Despite staying up all night, all EU fisheries ministers accomplished is once again setting Total Allowable Catches for Baltic cod far higher than recommended by scientific advice”, said Rebecca Hubbard, program director at Our Fish.