ProperCharlie

Is this a good thing or a bad thing? It seems to me unlikely that the proposals will be implemented, as they will be too unpopular. However, surely it is better to take drastic measures now, rather then arrive at a situation where stocks cannot recover (as happened in the Grand Banks fisheries off Nova Scotia)?

TelBoy

A good thing. Period. There is no environmental justification for continuing to fish cod for the next few years - none.

Find alternatives to cod - it might be "just" a fish, but it doesn't deserve to be wiped out because we can't be bothered to try alternatives, of which there are many.

Jye

Unfortunately I doubt our European brethren will stick to it. Go to countries like Italy or Spain and the markets are literally 'swimming' with undersize fish. Its too late now imo, like Iceland we should have had the gun boats out years ago. Common Fisheries Policy my ****.

ProperCharlie

Tel, I agree. However, there will be representatives of the fishing industry on TV explaining why we don't need to do this. I can't understand their mindset - they've seen catches decline year on year for the best part of a century, with smaller fish being landed and fewer species. Despite this, they still maintain that they are "managing" fish stocks and there isn't a problem. If they carry on, there won't be any fish and they'll all be out of a job, won't they?

ProperCharlie

jye - I think that the reason a ban is being suggested is the failure of other policies - mesh sizes, catch quotas etc - to acheive anything. I agree about the gun boats, btw.

ajm

I agree with it too, although it should be backed up with a decent fry release programme and maybe some habitat work, artificial reefs and the like.

The legal minimum size for cod is 35cm and yet only 50% of cod that size are sexually mature, its no wonder the situation is not sustainable.

CrisPDuk

The trouble, as usual the Spanish will take no notice, and hence OUR cod stocks will still get decimated, but with no reward to our fishermen. There will be no repeat of the 'Cod War', because:
a) The French & Germans will side with the Spanish and tell us we can't sink their boats &
b) The one remaining dinghy that now constitutes our once proud naval fleet, isn't fast enough to catch a trawler anyway

TelBoy

As far as i understand it, yes, PC. But obviously they're just focusing on their immediate livelihood, rather than the long-term prospects for the survival of cod, about which they couldn't care less in all honesty - they'll just move on to the next species.