Will Mackerel Go The Way Of The Grand Banks Cod?

[sandyRoe]

Outside EU waters is it being fished to extinction?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/22/fishy-tale-of-mackerel-mismanagement

[AB Editor]

I would be very sad for the noble mackerel to disappear from my dinner plate. I certainly hope it doesn't.

[ChillDoubt]

It does seem perplexing, especially in light of the programmes about fishing made last year(I believe, could have been year before) by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, which highlighted the ridiculous quota systems and scandalous waste of fish that occur as a result of such.

[Old_Geezer]

I saw the programme. Whittingstall didn't highlight a ridiculous quota system as far as I can see, he was blaming it in order to try to absolve the real culprits. The scandalous waste of fish was clearly indicated to be down to appalling (maybe deliberately so ?) management of the catch by the boats. If they deliberately fish to the limit, knowing full well they'll catch more when fishing for other species, and heartlessly not care but sling dead fish back in order to stay legal, then there is only the catch management to blame. If they fished to within the limit before swtching species, problem solved.

As for mackerel, one of my favourites. Yes I buy tins, but of course the best way to have fish is fresh and done well. One despairs at a human race that simply has no ability to control itself and avoid these sorts of issues.

[DTCwordfan]

Just make it line caught permitted only in British waters and, preferably, European as well.

End of issue as long as they prevent and police scavenging non-EU boats.

[ChillDoubt]

Whittingstall didn't highlight a ridiculous quota system as far as I can see, he was blaming it in order to try to absolve the real culprits.
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Erm, isn't that the same thing? Doesn't one lead to the other?

[Old_Geezer]

Not at all. As mentioned, if the boats don't fish to the limit and then swop to a different species, but instead, knowing they were likely to catch X ton of that fish later in the season whilst fishing for other species, stop deliberately fishing for them x tons from the limit, then any more they catch unintentionally they can land legally.

[ChillDoubt]

Have it your way OG, to me the two are inextricably linked.

[Old_Geezer]

Sorry I wasn't clear, ChillDoubt, I wasn't expressing an opinion.

Let me try with a numeric example.

Suppose the limit for fish species 'A' is 100 tons
Suppose the fishing boat knows from experience they can catch 200 tons of species 'A' in the year so expect to hit the limit half way through.
Suppose if trying to catch species 'B' experience indicates 20 ton of species 'A' is likely to be caught unintentionally.

Responsible fishermen:

They go out to catch species 'A'. When they have caught 80 ton of them they stop and target species 'B' for the rest of the year. During the rest of the year they unintentionally catch a further 20 ton of species 'A' which they can legally land, no waste.

Irresponsible fishermen:

They go out to catch species 'A'. When they have caught 100 ton of them they stop and target species 'B' for the rest of the year. During the rest of the year they unintentionally catch a further 20 ton of species 'A' which they then fling dead back into the water, cry crocodile tears to a TV chef personality, and bitterly complain it's not their fault, it's all the fault of those awful limits.

Same needed limits, different attitudes.

[emmie]

not surprising really, look at the industrial size trawlers, nets they are using, not just catching and depleting stocks of cod, mackerel but many other species that are caught, die and are simply turfed back into the water,

[woofgang]

bleurgh Ed you can have mine.....