This Week. It’s time to set fishing limits that do not exceed scientific advice

SCIENTIFIC ADVICEIT’S TIME TO LISTEN TO

Three out of four assessed EU fish stocks areoverfished, 63% in the Atlantic and 94% in the Mediterranean

Overfished

The World Bank estimates that overfishing costs the global economy $50 billion in lost revenue per annum

Lost Revenue

The European Commission has predicted without drastic action, only eight out of 136 stocks will be at levels viable for commercial exploitation by 2022

Stocks Collapse

Predicted

In Irish waters it is estimated nearly half of all assessed commercial stocks are currently being fished at unsustainable levels

Unsustainable levels of fishing

In line with fisheries scientists recommendations since 2004, for 2012 the European Commission is proposing zero catches of cod in the Irish Sea and West of Scotland

Zero Catch in 2012

Between 1987 and 2011, for eleven fish stocks examined, fishing limits exceeded the scientific advice by an average of 33%

Limits Exceeded

60% of all fish caught in the EU are discarded

60% Discarded

If the right decisions are made, stock sizes and fish landed could increase by up to 70 percent with a gross value-added for the fishing sector of up to 90%

Stock sizes can increase

On December 15th-16th, EU fisheries ministers decide on fishing limits (TACs) for 2012;

Simon Coveney has the opportunity to take a stand against overfishing by pushing for fishing limits that do not exceed scientific advice

In response to a recent Department stakeholder consultation eight of the ten submissions received clearly requested that fishing limits not exceed scientific advice

One submission represented a compilation of 4,500 individual responses from the Irish public to an Avaaz.org action call

DecisionWeek

SCIENTIFIC ADVICEIT’S TIME TO LISTEN TO

On November 23rd Simon Coveney presented to the Dáil, a Sea Fisheries Sustainability Impact Assessment, the synthesis of the stakeholder consultation;

He stated, “[t]he balance of the contributions indicates a need for greater adherence to the scientific advice available to enable prudent and appropriate management decisions to be made. This is necessary to provide for sustainable fish stocks and support the viability of the fishing industry, while also protecting the broader marine ecosystem.”; and “there are some stocks for which the scientific advice (including from Ireland’s Marine Institute) for fishing limits differs from the Commission proposal, in these cases the advice should still be adhered to.”

DecisionWeek

SCIENTIFIC ADVICEIT’S TIME TO LISTEN TO

Setting fishing limits that exceed scientific advice is like a five tonne truck driving over a bridge with a three tonne limit.

DecisionWeek

SCIENTIFIC ADVICEIT’S TIME TO LISTEN TO

Setting fishing limits that exceed scientific advice is like a five tonne truck driving over a bridge with a three tonne limit.

DecisionWeek

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SCIENTIFIC ADVICEIT’S TIME TO LISTEN TO