ABERDEEN, Scotland, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- North Sea cod populations are extremely low and unless the fish reproduce successfully, scientists say the area's cod fishing industry might be doomed.
A senior Scottish fisheries scientist told the BBC Wednesday the cod are now at the lowest level ever seen.
Robin Cook, head of the Scottish Fisheries Research Service, told BBC Radio, "The change over the last 25 years has been an almost continuous decrease -- it's gone down by a very substantial amount.
"The remaining fish have to produce young, and if they can't, then we're lost. We've certainly reached a critical point ... if we continue to fish in the same way as we fished a couple of years ago, then the prospects are not at all good."
Cook said the data were obtained from survey vessels, trips by scientists on commercial fishing boats, and catch figures recorded at harbors.
Many fishermen sailing from Scottish ports dispute the findings, saying their catches prove there are ample fish left.
