Controversy in the UK over lack of sufficient fish from its own waters
UK would have run out of fish for the year by now if it relied on stocks from its own waters, a report suggests. Annual domestic fish stocks can satisfy demand for about 233 days a year, think tank the New Economics Foundation said. This leaves the UK reliant on imported fish, such as haddock and cod, with at least one in three fish consumed in the UK imported from outside the EU.
The NEF said demand could be met with better managed seas. Ministers cited the UK's call for sustainable fishing.
The UK imports more than 101,000 tons of cod, worth £372m, and 60,000 tons of haddock, worth £156m, in a year, the majority of which comes from outside the EU, according to figures from 2010. It is reliant on countries such as Iceland, Norway and China for a large share of traditional British fish, the 2012 Fish Dependence report said.
The situation has improved since last year, when the UK effectively ran out of fish more than a month earlier than in 2012, but is largely unchanged over the past decade. The report says UK fish stocks would run out on 21 August but points out that Spain, France, Germany and Italy all used up their own supplies earlier in the year.
Rupert Crilly, of the NEF, said the UK had access to productive fishing grounds and had moderate levels of consumption compared to some other European countries, such as Spain and Portugal.
“It could produce as much as it needs but instead it is a net importer of fish,” he said.
“Consumers understand that we import tuna which is virtually non-existent in its waters; but they will wonder why we need to import cod and haddock from China when our cod and haddock stocks could deliver five and three times more catches with better management,” he said.
Elsewhere in Europe the situation is more acute, with EU consumption of fish outstripping eastern and central Europe's annual fish supplies by 6 July.
Campaigners are calling for ambitious reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy, which governs the fishing activities of the EU fleet, to ensure fisheries are more sustainably managed to prevent over-fishing.
They are also calling for the EU to promote responsible consumption by EU consumers and to make sure fishing outside the bloc's waters is done more responsibly.
Ian Campbell, UK co-ordinator for Ocean2012, a coalition of organisations, said: “Fishing within sustainable levels and adapting fish consumption to available resources is the only way to regain healthy fishing grounds.”
A spokeswoman for the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “Over-fishing has been a central failing of the current Common Fisheries Policy and the UK is adamant that the new CFP, which is currently under negotiation in Brussels, must ensure catches are set at a level that is sustainable.
”We will not be able to rebuild fish stocks without getting this right”
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Fish 'n chips tonight is it?
'ave it!
You should see the fish markets we have down here. No need to keep it in the fridge, there is a fresh catch in every day. So much variety: sword fish, tuna, sun fish, conger eel, sea bass, plaice, sole, mackerel, crab, lobster, giant shrimp, and so much more that haven't got direct translations...
but if you get greedy, and steal them all,
then it will just be chip sarnies then ..
@3 sounds great the biggest catch here is usually crabs.
but yes... Chile = brilliant seafood
@9 only if you have dealings with sussieUS....
Thanks for that. I never know what to call congrio for Brits cause they don't got it, like many of our fish, so I just go with Conger eel cause it sounds right. It is like corvina, which isn't sea bass, but to sell it in the US it is marketed at Chilean Sea Bass.
Maybe I will use “kingklip” for Congrio in future, sounds good. Whatever it is called, it is one of my favourites; really tasty, succulent meat. There is a “picada” here in town that does a dish called “Congrio Pirata” which comprises two congrio fillets, one on top of the other, filled with scallops and shrimps, covered in cheese and coriander leaf, baked in a clay dish. Ay ay ay, might have to do that for lunch today.
Pack it in man, my taste buds are going wild. Can not think of anything better than freshly caught sea food chased down with a lovely cold beer, damn now I am doing it!!!!
I like my cold beer later in the day. I always go for a chilled Sauvignon Blanc from the Limari valley (just down the road) to go with the starter.
And talking of starters and the Limari valley, we have the best giant river shrimp down there. These are the best shrimp in the world, much tastier than sea shrimp and about the size of bananas. No fancy cooking, just place gently on the charcoal grill until the shells start to turn golden brown. Peel of the shells to reveal juicy, fillet sized prawn, season lightly and serve with freshly chopped green chilli, tomato, cilantro (all from Limari too). Then on to the “Congrio Pirata” with a cool, but not chilled Chardonnay, of course from Limari, best of all Tabalí. Homemade Papaya ice-cream (Elqui valley) with a Falernia Late Harvest (Elqui)....I’m going home.
I believe Chilean Sea Bass is another name for Patagonian Toothfish..... I hadn't heard it called corvina....
Anyway , enough of this idle chatter... I have bags to pack... where did you say... Limara Valley.....?
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