EU claims better fish quotas; environmentalists disagree

European Union nations say fish catch quotas y agreed upon for next year means y have me more heway in securing sustainable fishing in ir waters — but environmentalists are strongly disputing that claim. EU fisheries Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius said Wednesday after two days of negotiations that almost 100% of EU fish landings from Atlantic Ocean and rth Sea will come from sustainable sources.

After having overfished both regions for years, EU claims that 2020 will bring in a new era for fisheries.

“Next year, EU member states fleet will fish at level that will t hinder regeneration of stocks,” Sinkevicius said.

Environmental groups strongly disagree with that claim. y say EU nations have again put interests of ir fishing industry ahe of health of ir waters. Some cod quotas for next year were cut but fishing for several or species can increase.

“ limits agreed by ministers suggest that progress to end overfishing has stalled or even reversed, a disappointing outcome for year. Overfishing was supposed to become a thing of past,” said Andrew Clayton of Pew Charitable Trusts.