Half of cod in Britain may be illegal

LONDON, June 21 (UPI) -- Norwegian officials and environmental groups say up to half of cod sold in Britain is illegally fished as part of an organized crime scheme.

Norway claims Russian vessels are overfishing the seas by more than 20 percent of the legal quota and then transferring excess fish to another boat mid-sea.

The Times of London reports the World Wildlife Fund International and Greenpeace have also raised concerns, and want a number of European countries, but especially Britain, to tighten port regulations.

Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw said Britain is steadily improving its attempts to block illegal fish, although Norwegian Naval officials call it tough talk with few results.