Paul D Posted May 27, 2008 Report Share Posted May 27, 2008 Western Morning News TASTE FOR SEA BASS 'HITTING STOCKS' PAUL GREAVES 11:00 - 24 May 2008 British stocks of wild sea bass are running low thanks to the demand being generated by restaurants and celebrity chefs, fishing experts have warned. Sea bass, which is caught in large quantities off the South West coast, has undergone an image transformation in the last decade and is now a staple of dining menus across the country. Sales have trebled in the last two years alone and the amount landed in the UK has risen by 75 per cent. Now the Bass Anglers' Sportfishing Society has warned that the fashionable fish may have to be taken off the menu for good if its numbers continue to fall. John Leballeur of the society said: "I have never seen a period when the numbers of young bass have been so low for so long. "Across the southern UK, there has been a decline." The group has now called a halt to catching the fish for three months during the spawning season. Recent figures from Seafish, the marine fishing authority, show sales have more than trebled since 2005, jumping from Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manic Moore Posted May 27, 2008 Report Share Posted May 27, 2008 Isn't it amazing how the commercial boys are suddenly supporting the scientists point of view!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Removed Posted May 27, 2008 Report Share Posted May 27, 2008 yep - its the scientists fault no its not its the french not me gov honest! If it wasn't pathetic it would make you cry. and only (according to DEFRA) in 2007 were Brixham bass landings even close to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted May 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2008 Scientists state the stock is sustainable = Agree with this, fish away, I am sure we can ensure it becomes unsustainable. Scientists state the stock is collapsing and should be a moratorium on catches = We have a bycatch problem, better increase the quotas .... The world has gone mad ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted May 27, 2008 Report Share Posted May 27, 2008 However, fishermen in the Westcountry say there is no sign of sea bass disappearing. A slightly controversial thought from me - but year on year for the past 4/5 years the bass fishing seems to be getting better... possibly a result of my/our knowledge getting better and bigger, faster, more capable boats and tackle - but the bass fishing to me seems to be good. Bass in supermarkets are 99% farmed = sustainable Bass in resuturants with high price tags are often 'line caught' = sustainable .....where do the beam trawlled ones go?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted May 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2008 Report here from 2002 - Page 15 shows captured versus farmed. Aquaculture Market Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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