Decision in Brussels
North Sea fishermen must catch less herring in 2025
North Sea fishermen will have to accept losses in the coming year. In other stocks, however, more may be fished in 2025. Environmentalists see a problem in the quantities.
German North Sea fishermen are not allowed to bring as much herring and cod in 2025 as this year. The EU minister responsible for fishing agreed on the permitted fishing quantities for the North Sea and the Northeast Atlantic at night. According to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the permitted fishing amount in the herring decreases by 27 percent to around 35,600 tons and 22 percent for the cod to a good 1,700 tons.
According to the information, there is also a significant reduction in the permitted fishing quantity in mackerel in the western waters of the northeast Atlantic. German fishermen can fish a good 9,600 tons of fishing here in the coming year, a minus of 32 percent compared to the previous year. However, there is an increase of 11 percent in plaice and pollos in the North Sea, so more than 6,000 tons of plaice and 6,666 tons of pollachers can be caught.
Many stocks in poor condition
The background to the restrictions is that many stocks in European seas are in poor condition. Overfishing, climate change and other factors increase the animals.
The EU Commission draws up every year on the basis of scientific recommendations, which should be designed in such a way that the stocks are not under too great pressure. However, the EU fishermen’s Minister have the last word when it comes to stocks that are only fished by EU countries. The fishing quantities in other marine areas must be negotiated with third countries such as Great Britain or Norway.
“There are stability for the protective measures for the eAL – the regulations applicable in the current year are continued,” said the Ministry of Agriculture. According to the EU countries, this includes about a six-month closed season, but there are exceptions.
Criticism of environmentalists
Franziska Saalmann from the environmental protection organization Greenpeace criticized: “The overfishing in the North Sea continues almost unchecked in 2025.” In addition, she said there was a one -month loophole for fishing on the eel and the lower fishing quantities at the cod were not enough. Fischeriminister Cem Özdemir (Greens) had the chance to change the course. The BUND for the environment and nature conservation (BUND) was similar.
Silvia Bender, State Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, said: “The negotiation results are mainly based on the scientific recommendations, which continues sustainable inventory management in the North Sea.” However, she emphasized that the ministry also classified the cod fishing as too high.
From the perspective of German Environmental Aid (DUH), the fishing quantities for North Seahering are also too high. “The now decided quotas for the North Seahering ignore the effects on the overall population of the herring in the North and Baltic Sea and thus endanger the recovery of both stocks,” said Sascha Müller-Kraenner, federal manager of the DUH.
dpa
Source: Stern
