Ices says action is needed after overfishing

As has been the case in previous years, the latest report from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (Ices) makes grim reading.

The full report is due to be published on Friday but Ices has set out its stall in calling for drastic action from the European Commission and fisheries ministers for the European Union member states.

Ices said the current situation regarding the overfishing of cod and some other catches including whiting and hake remains untenable.

It has called for zero catches to get stocks back to improved levels with further "rebuilding plans" put in place from that point onwards to replenish stocks.

Ices proposes:

• The minimum recommended stock size for cod in the North Sea is 150,000 tonnes but the estimated size is 52,000. No more catches until stocks reach 70,000.

• There should be 10,000 tonnes of cod in the Irish Sea but the current estimate is 6,000 and falling. No further catches until stocks go above 6,000.

• West of Scotland waters should contain 22,000 tonnes but the current estimate is 2,500. Catches banned until stocks reach 14,000.

• The recommended size for whiting in the Irish Sea is 7,000 but it stands at 1,700. A ban until stocks rise above 5,000.

• There should be a zero catch for hake in southern waters down to Portugal, to bring hake to 35,000 tonnes from the current estimate of 16,000.

• No catches of capelin in the Barents Sea in 2004 because of a forecasted drop from 280,000 tonnes in 2003 to 90,000.

Rebuilding plans were also advocated for hake in northern waters off Ireland and plaice in the North Sea.

There was a more upbeat report on other fronts, with some stocks viewed as healthy and in some cases growing.

Ices made cautious note of the fact that haddock stock was the highest for 30 years and the North Sea stocks of Norway pout and saithe have also fared well.