October 9, 2019, Copenhagen – In connection with the recently published report from the University of Copenhagen on the consequences of reduced fishing quotas in the Baltic Sea (1), campaign manager at the organization Our Fish, Berit Asmussen, says:
“Denmark’s Minister of Fisheries’ new report is extremely bleak reading, not least for the minister himself, who now has incontrovertible documentation and responsibility for the consequences of decades of failed and irresponsible management of Baltic fish stocks.”
“Fisheries ministers and industry have used short-term socio-economic arguments year after year to achieve higher fishing quotas than researchers recommend. The report shows in black and white that this strategy leads to far more serious socio-economic consequences in the long run, which should cause Mogens Jensen to stop the madness. “
“The report should address the quota negotiations for the Baltic Sea next week with a fundamentally changed Danish position, which solidly supports putting the quotas in line with the researchers’ recommendations, rather than continuing Denmark’s hitherto highly problematic fight for higher quotas, which precisely is the reason for the poor condition of the fish stocks. ”(2)
“This report clearly shows that the Danish Fisheries Association, the Danish Pelagic Producer Organization, changing fisheries ministers and the ministry’s own management for decades have grossly failed a lot of Baltic fishermen and our marine environment, which together now pay the ultimate price for short-term economic interests “
“The report should also be seen in the context of the recently released IPCC report on the close relationship between the marine environment and climate change. If we stop overfishing, the health of the sea will be strengthened so that it can better withstand climate change and continue to act as climate buffer. by absorbing both heat and CO2. ”
Contact:
Campaign Manager, Our Fish, Berit Asmussen, 0045 40 41 66 48, berit@our.fish
Communications Manager, Our Fish, Christina Koll, 0045 28109021, christina@our.fish
Notes:
Financial consequences report for Danish fishermen following reductions in the Baltic Sea cod and herring quotas, University of Copenhagen, 2019: https://static-curis.ku.dk/portal/files/228411740/IFRO_Commissioned_Work_2019_17.pdf
Folketinget’s Environment and Food Committee, joint note for council meeting (agriculture and fisheries) on 14-15. October 2019: https://www.ft.dk/samling/20191/almdel/MOF/bilag/4/2084567.pdf
https://eu.oceana.org/en/publications/reports/healthy-fisheries-are-good-business
The international organization Oceana has investigated and described the great potential that could be released if fisheries in the EU were restored and managed responsibly:
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Catch values could rise by € 2.4 billion a year (+ 56%)
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Net income from fisheries and processing could increase by EUR 965 million per year
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The EU’s total gross domestic product could rise by EUR 4.9 billion a year
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92,000 jobs could be created in the fisheries and related industries (food, retail, etc.).