Oceans summit tackles sea stocks

The summit will highlight the condition of the UK's seas

A campaign calling for the recovery of wildlife in the seas around Britain has been launched in Edinburgh.

The effort has been supported by Prince Charles and came amid warnings that tough choices lie ahead to prevent a collapse of cod stocks in the North Sea.

The WWF's Oceans Recovery Summit - which has been endorsed by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan - was taking place at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh on Tuesday.

Cod stocks are under threat

It has brought together a wide range of marine stakeholders to highlight the state of what the conservation organisation describe as "the UK's badly damaged and deteriorating seas".

Their aim will be to agree a shared vision for the recovery of the oceans.

Scottish Fisheries Minister Rhona Brankin was due to be among the speakers at the event, which welcomed representatives from the corporate sector, national and local governments, scientists, academics and industry bodies.

The WWF conference opened the day after government advisers expressed shock at the dramatic drop in the level of young cod in the North Sea.

The International Conference on the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) has drafted a report on the prospects for 2002 catches.

The advice to the UK Government blamed overfishing for poor catches, and said that the effects of higher sea temperatures caused by global warming could also be behind the trend.

It would be foolish to go beyond the advice and seek short term gain only for the fisheries to collapse in the longer term

Rhona Brankin

UK Fisheries Minister Elliot Morley, who was not attending, said recovery plans were needed because of the "dire state" of cod stocks.

Ms Brankin said that the "complex" advice would have to be studied in detail.

"Clearly, a number of fish stocks remain in some difficulty - particularly cod," she said.

"However, there are signs of improvement in haddock and whiting stocks in the North Sea.

"I am also pleased to see improvement in most of the pelagic fisheries, like mackerel, although prospects for improvement on the west of Scotland stocks are not so encouraging."

She said there would need to be "a series of hard international discussions" before the EU Fisheries Council in December.

Scientific advice

"At this stage it is to early to conclude what the UK's negotiating stance will be," she said.

"I need now to take some time to assess the advice - which is very complicated and voluminous. Importantly, I will need to consult the industry."

She said it was important to base decisions as closely as possible on scientific advice.

"It would be foolish to go beyond the advice and seek short term gain only for the fisheries to collapse in the longer term," said Ms Brankin.

Rhona Brankin will address the event

But she stressed: "As ever, I will be looking for the best outcome for the Scottish industry consistent with a sustainable fishery."

Earlier this year the Scottish Executive unveiled a £25m decommissioning scheme for fishing boats.

The aim is to reduce the size of Scottish fleets and preserve dwindling white fish stocks in the North Sea.

The EU imposed new restrictions earlier this year which effectively prohibited Scottish vessels from fishing in certain areas for a 10-week period.

This sparked a protest from Peterhead fishermen, who undertook a voluntary tie-up rather than catch undersized fish.