Greenpeace today slammed the European Union for pushing cod closer to extinction in British waters.
Under pressure from Tony Blair's government, EU ministers ignored scientific advice calling for a halt to cod fishing for the third year in a row. They also threw out proposals to close some fishing grounds to protect cod stocks.
Even though scientists and environmentalists stress that the only way to save beleaguered cod stocks is to enforce a 'zero catch' allowance, EU fisheries ministers chose to leave the cod quota at last year's already high level.
Oliver Knowles, Greenpeace oceans campaigner, said: "It's a very simple argument - if fishing for cod in the North Sea is allowed to continue, then cod will be wiped out. That would be bad news for the oceans and the fishing industry. It's inexcusable that EU fisheries ministers have failed to address this issue with any sort of decisive action.
"This meak political tinkering with fish stocks flies in the face of scientific advice. Scientists have been calling for a complete ban on cod fishing for a number of years, yet the EU ignores their advice.
"If the EU was actually serious about protecting oceans and the fish that live in them, they'd be listening to the scientists and banning cod fishing in the North Sea instead of caving in to the short-term demands of the industry."
He added: "It is woeful that Ben Bradshaw has put short-term political and industry gain ahead of the long-term interests of the marine environment and the UK's fishing communities."
Further information
contact the Greenpeace press office on 020 7865 8255.
