EU extends cod protection measures; EU-Norway trade talks stalled; Canadian cod fisheries to close again; Further controversy over US dolphin-safe label; Interest in cod farming grows; Norwegian seafood export value drops

摘要

EU fisheries ministers have agreed to changes to the interim cod recovery measures, which will expand the area covered by restrictions on days spent at sea. Meanwhile, an emergency cod fishing moratorium has been imposed in the Baltic Sea, closing the fishery until the end of August. The flatfish fishery has also been closed to prevent cod bycatch. Negotiations between the European Commission and Norway on the expansion of the European Economic Area that will follow EU enlargement have reached an impasse. Poland has brought talks to a standstill by demanding a larger import quota for herring and a duty free quota for salmon. The Canadian government was expected to announce the closure of the depleted East Coast cod fisheries this week, hitting anestimated 19 000 workers in the industry. One stock, to the south of Newfoundland is reported to be doing well, however. Meanwhile, Canada is considering further measures to deter overfishing by foreign vessels outside its EEZ. A US judge has ruled in favour of environmentalists seeking an injunction to hold up a government attempt to relax the rules for 'dolphin-safe' tuna. Mexico is directly affected by the move and will consider appealing. The French fisheries institute Ifremer has said farming of pollack and cod on the country's west coast should be possible. Meanwhile, the first company to produce farmed cod in Shetland has found eager buyers in the US restaurant sector. In the first quarter of 2003, Norwegian seafood exports fell 13 percent in value compared with the year before, despite a 4 percent rise in volume. Lower pelagic prices were blamed.