Just
100 cod left in North Sea
Overfishing
has left fewer than 100 adult cod in the North Sea, it was reported
16
September, 2012
A survey of catches at
European ports has found that fishermen did not catch a single cod
over the age of 13 last year.
The
findings raise concerns for future stocks of cod, which become more
fertile as they age. The fish can live as long as 25 years and grow
to 6ft.
Researchers
warned a lower life expectancy meant a lower birth rate and a faster
decline.
Callum
Roberts, professor of marine biology at York University, told the
Sunday Times that intense industrial fishing meant that few fish
survived beyond the age of four, when they reach sexual maturity.
“This
means that there are fewer eggs and larvae to perpetuate future
generations,” he said.
Analysis
of around 500,000 fish in England and Wales found 191 million
one-year-old cod and just 18 million three-year-olds.
In
the North Sea, there were 65,300 tons of cod aged three or more while
in 1971, a peak year for cod population, there were 276,000 tons.
The
decline in cod has also meant a rise in populations of their prey
such as scampi.
The
research was carried out by Defra’s fisheries laboratory, the
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas).
Chris
Darby, head of the Cefas team, said: “Our latest assessments
suggest in 2011 there were 600 cod aged 12 to 13 in the North Sea, of
which about 200 were caught.
“None
of the catches recorded at North Sea ports around Europe showed any
fish aged 13 or over. Analysis of that data suggests there are fewer
than 100 such fish in the whole North Sea.”
Scientists
have appealed for a reduction in the cod quote from the North Sea
down to 25,600 tons next year.
This
year’s quota is 32,000 tons, compared to 360,000 tons in the 1970s.
Barrie
Deas, chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s
Organisations, said: “The most effective measure in rebuilding fish
stocks seems to be removing vessels from service by paying owners to
decommission them.”
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.