Cuts on catches

The warming of the Atlantic waters may be responsible for the significant decline in stocks of cod and other white fish off the coasts of Europe. This despite the fact that, in the last two decades, fisherfolk have cut their catches by a third. Though the number of mature fish have gone up, young fish are still disappearing. Robin Cook of Scotland's Aberdeen Marine Laboratory is now calling for a 40 per cent cut in North Sea cod catches. Europe's fisheries ministers are expected to take a decision on the cuts soon ( New Scientist , Vol 164, No 2213).