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Studies from NGOs show EU continues to overfish in Atlantic waters despite commitments

Associated Press
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FILE - In this June 12, 2012 file photo, a piece of yellowfin tuna, top, is displayed at a fish shop in Ghent, Belgium. Two studies from environmental groups, obtained Wednesday, March 25, 2015 by The Associated Press ahead of their release, show EU nations continue to overfish their Atlantic waters despite commitments to fish sustainably and stay within safe scientific limits. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this May 13, 2013 file photo, WWF members and sympathizers protest against overfishing of the European seas in front of the EU Council in Brussels. Two studies from environmental groups, obtained Wednesday, March 25, 2015 by The Associated Press ahead of their release, show EU nations continue to overfish their Atlantic waters despite commitments to fish sustainably and stay within safe scientific limits. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Oct. 16, 2009 file photo, Fernand Pawels of the Verbiest Fish Company in Antwerp, Belgium, unpacks a crate of fresh Codfish at the company warehouse. Two studies from environmental groups, obtained Wednesday, March 25, 2015 by The Associated Press ahead of their release, show EU nations continue to overfish their Atlantic waters despite commitments to fish sustainably and stay within safe scientific limits. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File) (The Associated Press)

Two studies from environmental groups show European Union nations continue to overfish their Atlantic waters despite commitments to fish sustainably and stay within safe scientific limits.

The studies obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press ahead of their release show that almost two out of three limits for catches in the waters off north-western Europe were still set above the limits advised by scientific research.

The Pew Charitable Trusts said that in many cases the EU's Atlantic nations "set fishing limits contrary to the recent" reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, continuing overfishing for such dinnertime favorites like North Sea cod and hake.

The New Economics Foundation found that cod was fished beyond scientific advice by 38 percent, blue whiting by 51 percent and pollack even by 231 percent.