North Sea cod stocks slashed by almost 50% in annual quota setting

North Sea cod stocks have been slashed by almost 50% in the lastest quota agreement between the United Kingdom, European Union and Norway. 

Cod quotas have been set at 11,164 tonnes, a decrease of 44% compared with last year, with the UK prescribed 47.3% of that number. 

Other whitefish lines were also cut, with saithe slashed by 25% to 54,053 tonnes and herring by 20% to 328,566 tonnes. 

Despite recommendations from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) to cut the quota for cod entirely, two seasonal closures in waters around Scotland were secured, along with restrictions on targeting it in the south North Sea.

The president of the National Federation of Fish Friers, Andrew Crook, dubbed the new cod quota “a blow”, underscoring the difficulty the UK government faces when balancing business and environmental considerations, but said “the voices of fishermen had been heard”. 

“We are also waiting for the delayed Barents Sea quota announcement next week, but we are expecting a further reduction there too,” Crook said, noting it put added pressure on the fish and chip industry.

He said cod and haddock would remain on menus, but many fish & chip shops would need to offer alternative species to cope.

“Fish & chip operators are not alone in feeling the pressure, but we seem to be bearing the brunt,” Crook said. “We hope the government finally wake up to the fact that the hospitality sector, especially the independents, need support and that cannot wait until next autumn.”

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As part of the agreeement, the total allowable catch for haddock was set at 92,337 tonnes, with the UK accessing 64.8% of that stock, whiting 159,344 tonnes with the UK accounting for 66.2% of the catch, and plaice 144,605 tonnes, of which the UK has 26.5%. 

A new working group will also be established and will meet over the next two years to recommend new and adapt existing control measures, enhance monitoring, control, and surveillance capabilities.

“This deal with the EU and Norway delivers opportunity for British fleets now and for years to come,” said fisheries minister Angela Eagle. “This includes securing around 290,000 tonnes of UK fishing opportunities worth about £380m, while ensuring vital stocks are managed sustainably for the future.

“I’m pleased we’ve secured a landmark herring agreement after seven years and new cod protections to help stocks recover, showing we can support fishing communities while safeguarding the marine environment.”

Defra said the agreement had taken account of advice from ICES, although this has been disputed by ocean conservation charity Oceana, which said it could be the “death knell for British cod” and noted other quotas were higher than recommended.

“Our government went into annual catch negotiations knowing that drastic measures were necessary to safeguard ocean ecosystems – they have come out of them with a catch limit for North Sea cod thousands of tonnes above scientific advice,” said Alec Taylor, director of policy and research at Oceana UK. “It is not an exaggeration to say that this could be the death knell for British cod and the coastal livelihoods it supports.”

Taylor continued: “We need an urgent change of course and a legally binding deadline to end overfishing, once and for all.”