Only 100 cod left in the North Sea

A

Ankle.Biter

Well-known member
A survey of catches at European ports has found that fishermen did not catch a single cod over the age of 13 last year.

The findings raise concerns for future stocks of cod, which become more fertile as they age. The fish can live as long as 25 years and grow to 6ft.

Researchers warned a lower life expectancy meant a lower birth rate and a faster decline.

Callum Roberts, professor of marine biology at York University, told the Sunday Times that intense industrial fishing meant that few fish survived beyond the age of four, when they reach sexual maturity.

“This means that there are fewer eggs and larvae to perpetuate future generations,” he said.


Full story below. :o


Just 100 cod left in North Sea - Telegraph
 
I think once commercial fishing has devastated cod stocks, they will move to another speciecs for example makeral. They will be next.

You see this even with small fishing boats. I remember seeing a lad with bags of mackeral and I said what are you going to do with them.

He replied I give them away to any one that wants them. Take as many as you like.

No thanks I said

Some of them were tiny.
 
Report today is that the UK is looking at a 5 year total ban on fishing from its waters for all nations. Nothing in detail yet just being talked about, no doubt when they see how much money they will need to pay out in compo they will change their minds.

I have said for many years i would be for a total ban for a few years if i could still fish (put everything back) but thas not for everyone and it would also destroy alot of peoples lifes who make their living from the sea.

Hard times...take the hit now when the fish have a chance or take the hit later when the fleets are up for sale due to no fish.

Our coastal ports built on the herring fleet...millions of them a day...NOW!!!!
 
They need some large nursery areas and heavily policed and devastating fines with imprisonment to anyone attempting to fish those areas
 
Good idea but don't this government will do any thing they have bigger fish to fry, pardon the pun
 
nature hates a vacuum,ive seen reports on the site of whiting all summer,ive been out of fishing for 20 years in the north east but i can remember a few whiting in the winter,now reports of doggies thornbacks and all kind of stuff off south shields pier,its a case of other species moving in to feed on the stuff the cod arent feeding on,the reason being that there aint no cod,mind you i reckon the tyne and wear will throw up some mega catches this year of codling,it isnt trawled and is a nursery area for the fish,expect at least 3 twenty pounders or more from the tyne this year,one will be a daft one by a young kid:D
 
A total ban during the Cod spawning season (mid March to early April) will go some way to addressing the problem. If the commercial fishermen continue to take egg laden Cod it is no wonder the stocks are in decline. We all love the spring run but lets be honest, the early fish are full of eggs and also, in our area, the gill nets are all over the rough ground as soon as the Cod show up.
 
From a pleasure point of view I think if we catch great if we don't its still great being out on the briny. From a commercial view point there is more informed than me that can comment but I still cant understand why an area within British waters cant be set aside for breading for two or three years (No go Areas) such as fallow landing in farming terms. Oops sorry to bring the farmers in to it:red:
 
codhw said:
From a pleasure point of view I think if we catch great if we don't its still great being out on the briny. From a commercial view point there is more informed than me that can comment but I still cant understand why an area within British waters cant be set aside for breading for two or three years (No go Areas) such as fallow landing in farming terms. Oops sorry to bring the farmers in to it:red:
Click to expand...

I think this is good strategy.

Commercial fishermen seem to be at war with scientists. We must take notice, you can't burry your head and say its not happening. We must be progressive listen and act.

Let's say the scientist are wrong. What's the worst that can happen if we have set aside breeding grounds?

It's a no brainier. :yltype::yltype:
 
I hate to see anyone loose their job and no body can hide the fact that everyone from packing companys, transport, boats, charters and many more would be out of work with a ban on fishing but on the other hand the sea is dieing as is the world, it can not sustain our ever growing numbers...Norway has it spot on and thats why loads of us travel there...i am going abck again next year, it shows you what can be done with a bit of protection.

Hard times ahead if they do a total ban for people and hard time ahead in maybe a few more years time if they dont.
 
Red5 said:
Wasn't this a similar reply to the warnings of overfishing off the Grand Banks?
Click to expand...

Same story all round the globe , if there's money to be made out of it, it will be plundered to the very last, it doesn't matter about tomorrow as long as the maximum possible is made today.
There is no argument whatsoever that fish stocks have depleted massively over the years , yet those who depend on them for their livelihoods are the first to rubbish scientifically acquired data proving it.
I can understand fishermen being worried about their jobs and way of life , but living in denial will simply bring the end so much quicker.
The link big cod posted has some interesting recommendations in there, they say it will be better and more economical to ban all fishing for 9-10 years and pay the fleet to sit idle than carry on with subsidies and allow the fleet to fish.
Long term the fleet needs to be reduced by more than half which will ensure continued employment and a healthy industry, rather than permanent unemployment for all and no fishing industry if they carry on the way they are.
Of corse it's all bollox unless someone is saying there are masses of cod left and nothing to worry about :rolleyes:
 

Similar threads

DaveyP
Only 100 Cod in the North Sea. More like 21 Million.
Replies
6
Views
908
northeast1
northeast1
Back
Top