Catch restriction measures to prevent stock depletion

摘要

With 88% of EU fish stocks overex-ploited - compared to an average of 25% globally - it is urgent to carry out a fundamental review of fisheries management schemes for 2009, concludes the European Commission. In spite of the efforts already being made, there has been no overall improvement in the situation of stocks since 2003, it adds. In its annual policy statement on fishing possibilities for 2009, presented on 30 May, the EU executive outlines the two systems it intends to overhaul for next year: the setting of total allowable catches (TACs) and restrictions on fishing effort. TACs are systematically set at levels well above those recommended by scientific advice to allow the recovery of overexploited stocks, notes the Commission.