October 13, 2005

EU warns of region's depletion of octopus stocks
 

The European Commission has warned that too many under-sized octopuses were being caught within the bloc, leading to a depletion of stocks. If no controls were enforced to stop over-fishing, the octopus might be at risk of dying out in the region.

Octopus was a delicacy in many Mediterranean cuisines.

In a bid to stop over-fishing, the EU has called for a minimum size for octopuses caught in an area extending somewhere from Morocco down the African coast to Congo, where many EU vessels operated.

Many European trawlers also operated in African waters due to partnership agreements between the EU and countries including Morocco, Senegal and Mauritania.

The commission proposed 500 grams as the minimum size, which was below the standard 750 grams allowed within EU waters, but above 350 grams in Senegal waters.

If the measure was agreed among individual member governments, it would apply to octopuses sold anywhere in the bloc, whether caught by EU or non-EU ships.