Northern sea bass stocks continue to worsen

The Northern sea bass stock is in a worse state than last year and will continue to worsen next year. Scientists have advised no bass catches next year would be the sensible thing to do. That was the baseline when a delegation from EFTTA and the EAA met recently with the European Commission.

“Therefore, the Commission cannot just roll over management measures from this year into 2017 and it certainly cannot allow any increase in landings,” said EFTTA’s Public Affairs Officer Jan Kappel, a member of the nine-people strong delegation, and continued “but to avoid catching bass is not possible neither for commercial fishers nor recreational anglers. The scientists also outlined alternative but, of course, slower pace strategies to rebuild the stock. I am pretty sure the Member States won’t go for a total closure but discuss and choose among the alternatives. Therefore, it is important that we secure that recreational angling is not again the sector to be hit hardest by the catch reduction measures to come“.

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EFTTA and EAA have arranged a bass event at the European Parliament on October 11. The Commission has accepted an EFTTA / EAA proposal to present and speak at the event.
EFTTA and EAA have arranged a bass event at the European Parliament on October 11. The Commission has accepted an EFTTA / EAA proposal to present and speak at the event.

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