Press release - November 29, 2010
Brussels, International — Europe’s fisheries ministers will today set quotas for several deep sea fish species within the EU. ICES, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, which advises the EU on the status of fish stocks has warned that 100% of the catch of deepwater fish managed by the EU is outside safe biological limits. The majority of this fish will be caught by large, highly destructive trawlers.
Greenpeace EU oceans policy director Saskia Richartz said: "Deep sea trawling is incredibly destructive, smashing up ancient coral beds and hauling away fragile and slow-breeding fish. Our oceans are in crisis precisely because the EU allows these kinds of harmful fishing methods. Scientists are telling us to stop and the European Commission has called for a fundamental reform of the rules. Our governments continue to ignore this advice."
A two page briefing on deep sea fishing is connected to this page.