EU head office proposes measures to cut wasteful management of fish stocks

The European Union's fisheries chief announced Wednesday proposals to curtail "discards," the wasteful practice of throwing good fish overboard because of commercial expediency or legal constraints.

It is part of the EU strategy to protect threatened stocks of cod and several other species.

"It makes no ecological, economic or ethical sense. The sooner we bring this wasteful practice to an end, the better," said EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg.

Fishermen complain they are forced to throw healthy fish overboard because of the EU's practice on imposing catch quotas on threatened fish. The EU says many fishermen also throw part of their catch overboard because it will not make them enough money ashore.

Under the proposals, discards will be progressively banned.