Scientists call for zero cod catch quotas in UK waters

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has renewed recommendations for ‘zero catch’ quotas for cod in the Northern shelf region, which includes the English Channel, the North Sea, and the west of Scotland. Scientists warn that cod stocks face a severe risk of collapse due to overfishing, rising sea temperatures, low numbers of breeding adults, and poor juvenile recruitment.

Data indicates that the spawning stock biomass for Southern and Northwestern substocks is expected to fall below critical levels in 2026 and remain low through 2027. While scientists have urged a complete ban on fishing, recent negotiations between the UK, EU, and Norway resulted in significant quota cuts rather than a total prohibition. This decision has faced criticism from conservation groups and the fishing industry, the latter of which warns that a total ban would devastate mixed fishery fleets.

An assessment by the UK government’s Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) noted that most quotas negotiated by the UK for 2026 were not aligned with scientific recommendations.