EU reaffirms spurdog protection

The commercial fishermen within the NWWRAC wrote to the commission to try and have the 5% bycatch rules changed allowing them to catch more spurdog.

Fortunately the commission has declined this request with a distinct change of language which should be welcomed and looks good for further shark protection for the EU shark community plan of action, (CPOA) the results of which are due later this year.

It now appears they are taking on board others views by stating “I understand that there is a strong divergence of opinion within the RAC between the catching sector and the other sectors.”

The commission also used the ICES advice as a reason for not having a change of heart

The letter to the RAC finally concluded ….”In the meantime however the 5% by-catch is the main management measure that will discourage fishers from targeting spurdog aggregations, given that effort reductions have been less than originally anticipated. The 5% by-catch limit is clearly a necessary incentive”

This can only be described as a victory for common sense