Protected Fishing Zones

I have noticed in the news that a few countries have been looking in to the possibilities of setting up protected fishing zones, these zones would mean that in specific areas companies will not be allowed to fish. The idea behind this is to improve depleted fishing stocks which have become reduced in certain waters over the past few decades.

While these countries are really trying to help the environment and improve the chances of our future children having the ability of fish on their dinner menus it does seem that other countries are battling against these protected fishing zones due to monetary reasons.

The government of Croatia has decided that from the 1st January 2008 (yesterday) they will impose a protected fishing zone of fifty seven thousand square kilometres in the Adriatic sea to improve depleted fishing stocks that it says have become dangerously reduced by Italy over fishing in the waters.

While this is a great idea and would help improve levels of fishing stock Italy, Slovenia and other countries are opposing the protected zone. Italy is opposing the zone due to economy reasons as Italy catches 200,000 tonnes of fish stock per year, Slovenia on the other hand is opposing the idea due to unresolved sea border disputes.

Even the European commission has played a part in Croatia's decision advising that it could affect Croatia's plan to join the EU if they stop EU countries fishing in their waters.

I believe there is a great need for countries to start reviewing plans for protected fishing zones so we can see an increase in fish stocks. The problem faced when looking at this is that EU countries can fish in each othes waters and if one country places a protected zone in its waters other countries contest it.

May be it is time that the EU flexed its muscles from Brussels and worked with member states to create special exclusion zones so these disputes do not surface.