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| North Sea cod back on the menu, marine body says | North Sea cod back on the menu, marine body says |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| North Sea cod has been taken off the Marine Conservation Society's (MCS) list of fish to avoid eating. | |
| The UK charity had previously said cod should not be eaten because stocks were only slightly above sustainable levels. | The UK charity had previously said cod should not be eaten because stocks were only slightly above sustainable levels. |
| It now says cod can be eaten as an occasional treat - perhaps once a week - and has removed it from its red list of endangered fish. | It now says cod can be eaten as an occasional treat - perhaps once a week - and has removed it from its red list of endangered fish. |
| The new guidance follows a recovery in North Sea cod numbers and a planned increase in the EU quotas for the fish. | The new guidance follows a recovery in North Sea cod numbers and a planned increase in the EU quotas for the fish. |
| But the MCS warned that nine other stocks of cod remained on its list and said more work was needed to improve their numbers. | |
| And it said cod may never fully recover to their peak numbers of the 1970s and early 1980s. | And it said cod may never fully recover to their peak numbers of the 1970s and early 1980s. |
| 'Years of sacrifice' | 'Years of sacrifice' |
| North Sea cod numbers collapsed during the 1980s through a combination of sustained overfishing and changes to the environment. | North Sea cod numbers collapsed during the 1980s through a combination of sustained overfishing and changes to the environment. |
| But the MCS has upgraded the fishery from red to amber, which means it is showing signs of improvement. | |
| It said strict limits on catch sizes over the past 10 years were helping numbers to recover and said it could now be eaten about once a week as a treat. | It said strict limits on catch sizes over the past 10 years were helping numbers to recover and said it could now be eaten about once a week as a treat. |
| MCS fisheries officer Samuel Stone said: "It's fantastic to see this fishery finally off the red list. | MCS fisheries officer Samuel Stone said: "It's fantastic to see this fishery finally off the red list. |
| "Years of sacrifice and a lot of hard work have led to population increases above dangerously low levels. | "Years of sacrifice and a lot of hard work have led to population increases above dangerously low levels. |
| "Whilst this certainly is a milestone for North Sea cod, the job is not done yet. | "Whilst this certainly is a milestone for North Sea cod, the job is not done yet. |
| "Efforts of recent years need to continue in order for the fishery to head towards the green end of the spectrum." | "Efforts of recent years need to continue in order for the fishery to head towards the green end of the spectrum." |
| Mr Stone said the fish needed to increase above precautionary levels. | Mr Stone said the fish needed to increase above precautionary levels. |
| 'Important role' | 'Important role' |
| Fishing levels also need to be reduced to a level where fish stocks will not be depleted. | |
| Currently all cod stocks in UK waters are being fished in excess of this level, which is required by law by 2020 at the latest, Mr Stone said. | Currently all cod stocks in UK waters are being fished in excess of this level, which is required by law by 2020 at the latest, Mr Stone said. |
| He also said greater efforts were needed to restore the nine cod stocks in the north east Atlantic that remain on its red list. | He also said greater efforts were needed to restore the nine cod stocks in the north east Atlantic that remain on its red list. |
| Cod stocks still on the red list: | Cod stocks still on the red list: |
| "These nine cod stocks now need some of the attention that North Sea cod has had over the last decade in order to turn things around," Mr Stone added. | "These nine cod stocks now need some of the attention that North Sea cod has had over the last decade in order to turn things around," Mr Stone added. |
| "Whilst these stocks are far smaller than the North Sea stock, they still play a very important role in the local marine ecosystem and greater efforts are needed to recover these stocks." | "Whilst these stocks are far smaller than the North Sea stock, they still play a very important role in the local marine ecosystem and greater efforts are needed to recover these stocks." |