NGO publishes manual to help EU reduce commercial fishing discards

The nonprofit NGO Environmental Defense Fund announced today it was issuing a manual free of charge with advice for EU fisheries on how to reduce discards.

The manual, written for fishermen, fishery managers and EU fisheries officials, offers case studies and practical advice to the EU fishing community.

“We believe this manual is the first of its kind in the EU, and we hope it helps bring new fisheries management tools to the discussion on ending discarding, as well as expanding on opportunities offered by existing tools,” said Melanie Siggs, senior director for Environmental Defense Fund’s EU Oceans program.

The manual describes in detail the EU quota system, and how pooling quotas between fisheries can help fishermen land and sell what they catch, instead of pitching it overboard at sea as discards. The advice is in line with the recently reformed common fisheries policy (CFP), which among other new regulations forbids discards.

“The challenge of successfully implementing the landings obligation without bankrupting a large sector of the European fleet cannot be overstated,” said John Goodlad, an international fisheries expert based in Scotland. “The Environmental Defense Fund’s discard manual describes some very practical tools and measures which have worked elsewhere in the world.”

The manual’s case studies, including the Danish Fisheries Traceability System and the U.K. North Sea and English Channel Discard Pilot Projects, serve as examples of how to reduce discards and still remain viable and profitable.

“All of these suggestions can be a huge help to the fishing industry and fisheries managers as they look at how best to implement the landings obligation,” Goodlad said. “I therefore welcome this valuable and timely Environmental Defense Fund initiative.”

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