Denmark faces illegal fishing discards and food safety research

A report from DTU Aqua has revealed that approximately 1,900 tons of fish are illegally discarded by Danish fishers every year, representing about 11 percent of catches in the studied fisheries. When including legal discards, the total reaches 6,700 tons, or 17 percent of total landings. The issue is particularly prevalent in bottom trawling for lobster and groundfish in the Skagerrak, where cod and whiting are frequently discarded, likely because smaller fish have low market value.

In response, Danish Minister for Environment Maria Reumert Gjerding has called for increased camera monitoring on fishing vessels to improve control. The goal is for at least 90 percent of landings from Danish commercial vessels to come from ships equipped with electronic monitoring by 2029. This aligns with an upcoming EU requirement for vessels over 18 meters to carry cameras following risk assessments.

Separately, the DTU Food Institute is assessing risks throughout the food chain to ensure consumer safety. Regarding dairy, Flemming Bager, Head of Department at the DTU Food Institute, noted that while epidemiological studies have shown a statistical link between whole milk consumption and prostate cancer, a direct causal relationship remains unproven and may involve interactions between vitamin D and calcium. The institute is also reviewing scientific literature regarding the link between saturated fat in dairy and cardiovascular disease.