Thank cod... f ish now off danger list
Stocks rise after decades of decline
IT was once so plentiful that it was labelled ‘Britain’s gold’ by Prime Minister William Pitt the Elder – and had to be defended at all costs.
But decades of overfishing left the humble cod at risk of extinction.
Now after years of decline, cod has been removed from a list of fish to avoid eating.
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) yesterday said that North Sea cod has been given a new ‘amber’ rating, which takes it off the critically endangered list – but said it should be eaten only occasionally.
New evidence suggests that cod stocks, which collapsed in the 1980s, have risen above dangerously low levels for the first time after years of reduced catches.
MCS fisheries officer Samuel Stone said: ‘It’s fantastic to see this fishery finally off the red list.
‘ Whilst this i s certainly is a milestone for North Sea cod, the job is not done yet. Efforts of recent years need to continue in order for the fishery to head towards the green end of the spectrum.’
During the heyday of Scottish fishing in 1971, 276,000 tons of cod were recorded off our shores.
But by 2006, the stocks had fallen to a record low of 30,000 tons.
Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation said: ‘Whilst we believe North Sea cod should never have been classed as a fish to avoid in the first place, given that the stock has seen a sustained recovery in recent years, we do nonetheless welcome the positive classification the MCS has now given.
‘This remarkable recovery has been fuelled by a range of innovative c onservation measures adopted by our fishermen.
‘It is not just North Sea cod, the majority of fish stocks of interest to Scottish fishermen are in a healthy state and fished sustainably.’
From being widely caught and landed in UK ports, cod is now the country’s most imported species, with the majority from the Arctic and Iceland. A mature female can pump out up to five million eggs although most are eaten by birds and sea creatures.
With few natural predators, cod can live to more than 30 years old.
More than 250million fish suppers – the majority of them cod – are sold in the UK every year.
Fisheries Minister Richard Lochhead said: ‘Today’s news is a real milestone. This reflects on all the hard work put in by our fishermen.
‘It’s been a long haul but is now paying well-deserved dividends.’