A COD crisis could be averted by a 12 month ban according to a Widnes fishmonger.
Mike Jackson, whose Fleetwood firm Marina Quay Fisheries runs a stall in Widnes Market, said he had seen little evidence of the fish shortages scientists claim have left the seas in turmoil.
'They told us the world would end 10 years ago but we're still here,' he said.
'There are more fish at the market at the moment than ever.
'The one thing there is a change in is the cod. It is the number one fish we sell, despite the fact it is not the tastiest.
'People buy it for the name. There is a problem with levels of cod in the sea and I believe we should ban cod fishing for a year, but not just for British fishermen, for all fishermen.
'The Spanish and other foreign ships take the smaller cod which the British don't want, that is why stocks have fallen low.
'A one year ban would allow the population to survive and enable people to try other fish like haddock.' An international team of scientists claims that we have already fished so intensively that the wild fish population has reduced by a third since 1950.
They say unless we do something quickly then this will be the last century in which people can enjoy the taste of wild seafood.
But at George's Takeaway, manager Ann Hogg says fish and chip shops haven't felt the impact yet.
'People still want our cod, our fish strips are the most popular thing on the menu,' she said.
'We don't really sell any other kind of fish and while the price has gone up a little we haven't raised our prices, we're still more worried about local competitors.
'It would be a shame if the cod runs out because people will have to try different fish. We would have to look at other fish but we are not doing it at the moment.'