BRUSSELS — December 20, 2012 — European Union fisheries said Thursday they are moving toward more efficient and sustainable fishing that should see the stocks of threatened species recover while securing the livelihood of fishermen.
After a marathon all-night negotiating session, EU fishing nations came up with dozens of new quotas next year on fish hauls in the areas around Europe where fishermen may freely ply their trade.
“A healthy level for almost all stocks” can be achieved by 2015, with four others reaching that target only two years later, EU fisheries chief Maria Damanaki said at the end of three days of negotiations.
Fishing nations like France and Britain said they were happy their fishermen were given enough leeway for profitable fishing. Environmentalists complained several member states still sought too much short-term gain for their industry but said that after decades of slumping stocks due to overfishing there were finally signs for a turnaround in EU policy.
“Certainly, this is a better end of the year than many that have preceded it,” said Saskia Richartz, Greenpeace fisheries expert.
Read the full story by the Associated Press in the Washington Post