Alaska pollock catch limit likely to take a dive

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Declining stocks of Alaska pollock mean officials are likely to scale back 2009 catch limits for the largest U.S. fishery next month but scientists insist stocks are not in danger of collapse.

An expert panel recommended this week that fishermen in the Bering Sea cut their catch by 18.5 percent from this year’s harvest to 815,000 tonnes after several years of declining estimates for the fish.

Pollock is a billion-dollar industry, as well as a staple in the United States, thanks to frozen fish sticks and fish sandwiches sold by McDonald’s Corp and other fast food restaurants. The European Union, Japan and South Korea are big markets for Alaskan pollock.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council will base its catch limit on the recommendation when it meets in December, and a major fishing group is prepared to accept the cut.

Reuters