Cod might be come extinct in 15 years: WWF

GENEVA – Over exploitation could see the last reserves of cod, widely eaten in Europe, consumed within 15 years on current trends, the environmental group World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said last week.

By 2002, the world’s annual cod catch had fallen to 890 000 tonnes from 3,1 million tonnes in 1970 as fisheries became exhausted. “(The) global cod catch has suffered a 70 per cent drop over the last 30 years, and if such a trend continues, the world’s cod stocks will disappear in 15 years,” it said.In the Arctic Barents Sea, which accounts for around half of the world’s annual catch, the situation is not as reassuring as is often depicted, it added in a statement.In a report – the Barents Sea Cod – the environmental group said that fish quotas in those Arctic waters for 2004 are 100 000 tonnes over what is considered sustainable by scientists and a further 100 000 tonnes are caught illegally.It called on Russia and Norway, which jointly manage Barents Sea fishing, to set stricter cod quotas and to implement tighter controls on all fishing activities there.”Only sound management… by Russian and Norwegian governments will ensure the long sustainability of the world’s largest cod stock,” it warned.- Nampa-Reuters”(The) global cod catch has suffered a 70 per cent drop over the last 30 years, and if such a trend continues, the world’s cod stocks will disappear in 15 years,” it said.In the Arctic Barents Sea, which accounts for around half of the world’s annual catch, the situation is not as reassuring as is often depicted, it added in a statement.In a report – the Barents Sea Cod – the environmental group said that fish quotas in those Arctic waters for 2004 are 100 000 tonnes over what is considered sustainable by scientists and a further 100 000 tonnes are caught illegally.It called on Russia and Norway, which jointly manage Barents Sea fishing, to set stricter cod quotas and to implement tighter controls on all fishing activities there.”Only sound management… by Russian and Norwegian governments will ensure the long sustainability of the world’s largest cod stock,” it warned.- Nampa-Reuters