Popularity of cod fillets creates financial, ecological concerns for U.K.

From CNN Financial News Correspondent Charles Hodson

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Raise a pint to the popular British and Irish fare of fish and chips -- because threatened cod populations at sea could leave you with more chips and less fish in your basket.

The price of cod, in fact, has soared over the last 20 years as the North Sea cod catch has dropped by 85 percent, experts said.

VIDEO CNNfn's Charles Hodson reports that fish and chips may not be on London menus for much longer due to dwindling stocks of North Sea cod Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

But the pinch in fish buyers' pocket books has not lessened cod's popularity -- in fact, the higher the price, the greater the demand seems to be for the firm-fleshed fillets. Even London's gourmet restaurateurs have taken notice of what British fish and chip shops have been serving up for some 170 years.

But the craving for cod is outpacing the cod fisheries off the coast of Scotland, something the fishing industry says could force the disappearance of the local species altogether -- possibly wrecking Scotland's fishing and processing industry.

The European Union is expected to announce in December new measures to battle cod depletion.

Study warns pollution, overfishing threaten once rich stocks under the sea
November 13, 2000
London restaurants cater to the unusual
July 1998

U.K. Link on sea fishing
European Union
World Wildlife Fund

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.