The European Commission has proposed a severe crack down on commercial fishing for sea bass in the Atlantic.
Stocks are being depleted so rapidly that the proposed move would cut allowed catches from 570 tonnes a year to zero.
The Commission said it was reacting to “very alarming” advice from scientists who found that sea bass numbers had declined dramatically and were now below “safe biological limits”.
The same applies to cod in the Celtic Sea where the Commission is recommending a cut of 68% to the total allowable catch. At the same time, however, cod numbers from the North Sea remain healthy and will not be included.
The quota for sole in the Irish Sea could be cut back as much as 82%.
Fears for the collapse in fish stocks have prompted the limits being considered. The decision will be made by EU ministers at a summit in December, and insiders suggest the attempt will be difficult as ministers seek to defend their domestic fishing industries.
The EU’s environment commissioner, Karmenu Vella, said: “We need to bring all stocks to healthy and sustainable levels as soon as possible so that our fishing industry can remain viable.
“We are proposing an ambitious programme for 2017 and the only way forward will be to work with fishermen, scientists and national authorities to develop real solutions that lead to fisheries that are both economically profitable and sustainable.”
The EU had already promised to set maximum sustainable yields to end overfishing. The system would be flexible to lower or raise quotas according to scientific advice about fish stocks.
“Nearly half of all fish populations in the Atlantic - and particularly the North Sea - are being overfished. Any deviation from scientific advice would simply be irresponsible governance. The potential that stock recovery holds for the environment, and also for jobs in the fishing industry, is huge,” said Lasse Gustavsson from the charity Oceana.
