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Tuesday, 16 July, 2002, 01:04 GMT 02:04 UK
'Extinction' claim over North Sea cod
![]() Marine wildlife face growing risks (Wildlife Trusts)
They say it is now commercially extinct, meaning it makes no economic sense to try to catch it. Scientists have warned for years that this was likely to happen. But the claim marks the first time anyone has suggested that cod stocks have actually fallen to so low a level. It comes from the Wildlife Trusts, a partnership of the 47 county trusts which work and campaign for wildlife protection across the UK. Damaged beyond repair Joan Edwards, of the Trusts, told BBC News Online: "The cod really have gone commercially. Most of the cod we eat in the UK now come from Iceland."
The report says another species at severe risk is the unique horse mussel, found in Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland. It says: "The once vast horse mussel colonies on the seabed that formed a vital habitat for a wide diversity of species have been almost irreparably damaged by commercial dredging for queen scallops." It blames fishing practices for the plight of several small cetacean species in UK waters:
It also wants more protection for basking sharks, the sea's second largest fish at 10 metres in maturity. And now that leatherback turtles are recognised as part of the UK's native fauna, rather than occasional vagrants, the report urges better protection for them from fishing gear. The sea returns It says 100 hectares of salt marsh are lost annually in southern and eastern England to coastal development and erosion. This destroys a habitat for migrating birds and fish. The Trusts have bought a coastal farm in Essex where the sea defences will be breached, permitting the creation of more than 80 ha of salt marsh and mudflat. The report criticises salmon farming in Scotland, which it says produces large amounts of polluting nutrients. The Trusts say the future lies in ecosystem management, a process they call integrated marine stewardship. They want the government to issue a policy statement, to introduce new laws, and to unify the management of marine resources.
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