Reforms to save fish stocks urged

Environmental group WWF, seafood processors and retailers yesterday called for reform of Europe's fisheries policy to save disappearing fish stocks in EU waters.

By The Newsroom

Published 29th Apr 2010, 12:32 BST

Updated 29th Apr 2010, 12:33 BST

They coalition believes making the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) more sustainable is a business and conservation necessity, as the existing scheme has led to overfishing and a failure to maintain healthy fish stocks.

WWF has teamed up with the EU fish processors' association AIPCE and Eurocommerce, which represents retail, wholesale and international trade interests to the EU to push for solutions to the crisis facing European seas in the upcoming reform of the CFP.

The alliance wants to see "political" quotas for different fish stocks replaced by mandatory long term management plans, firmly based on the science, for all EU fisheries by 2015.

And it wants stronger regional management of fisheries, with local interests helping to develop the long term plans for their area.

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