Scientists have called for a ban on cod fishing in the North Sea, Irish Sea and seas off the west coast of Scotland in 2005 because stocks are so low.
The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea said at an estimated 46,000 tonnes, cod stock in the North Sea is 104,000 tonnes below the minimum recommended level.
Although "this does not necessarily mean the stock will become extinct", the ICES annual report said, "the fish are not being given enough chance to reproduce and the stock may not be as productive in the ecosystem as it should be."
The organisation also said stock is 4,800 tonnes below the minimum recommended level in the Irish Sea at about 5,200 tonnes and limited data on levels in waters west of Scotland "indicates stock remains at an historic low level".
Mr David Griffith, general secretary of the Copenhagen-based council said: "There is still no clear sign that cod stocks in the North Sea, Irish Sea and west of Scotland are making a recovery. "It also seems that fishing effort on these stocks is still too high.
"A further problem that scientists face is substantial under-reporting of catches of cod which makes it difficult to get a true picture of the state of these stocks." ICES, which co-ordinates marine research in the North Atlantic, also called for a ban on hake fishing in the southern part of the Bay of Biscay next year.
However, it found not all stocks are in such poor condition with North Sea haddock at its highest level - an estimated 460,000 tonnes - for 30 years.
A spokeswoman for DEFRA said this is the second year that ICES has called for a ban on cod fishing and she was unable to speculate whether it would be implemented or not. "ICES will publish its scientific advice on the state of key fish stock on October 22," she said.
"The European Union Commission will consider the advice in its scientific, technological, economic committee on fisheries over the next two weeks and then prepare its proposal for next year's total allowable catches. "These will then be discussed by the EU Fisheries council in December."
PA