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Fish ministers in marathon talks EU fish quota deal hammered out
(about 10 hours later)
EU fisheries ministers are braced for all-night talks to set quotas for 2007. European Union ministers have reached a deal to regulate permitted fish catches in 2007, aimed at stimulating the recovery of depleted stocks.
They are debating a new European Commission proposal for a 25% cut in the North Sea cod catch, and a 12% cut in the days cod fishermen spend at sea. During late-night talks, the ministers agreed a series of concessions offered by the European Commission, including a 14% cut in the North Sea cod catch.
Scientists say stocks will only recover if there is a total ban on cod fishing, but politicians have ruled this out. Cod will also be further protected by a cut in the days vessels spend at sea.
UK Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw told BBC News he expected eventual agreement on cuts of about 14% in the cod quota and 8-12% in days at sea. Scientists say stocks will only recover if there is a total ban on cod fishing, but politicians ruled this out.
EU Fisheries Minister Joe Borg said the Commission was trying to balance the need to rebuild depleted fish stocks with the needs of those whose livelihoods depend on fishing.
"The result was a proposal that has been severely criticised by all sides for being too drastic for some and too weak for others.
"Yet despite the difficulties I believe that the agreement reached tonight reinforces our gradual but sustained approach to delivering sustainable fisheries," he said.
He confirmed that cod catches will be cut by 20% in the west of Scotland and Celtic Sea, and by 15% for other stocks, except the North Sea where it will be cut by 14%.
'Signs of recovery''Signs of recovery'
The current maximum is about 15 days a month, depending the type of fishing gear used and the exact fishing ground. The number of days cod fishermen spend at sea was reduced by 7-10% - the current maximum is about 15 days a month, depending the type of fishing gear used and the exact fishing ground.
UK fishing industry in figuresUK fishing industry in figures
According to European Commission spokeswoman Mireille Thom the UK and a "few other countries" rejected the revised proposal of a 12% cut in days at sea. The Commission originally recommended a 25% cut in days at sea. A revised proposal of a 12% cut was also rejected.
The Commission originally recommended a 25% cut in days at sea. The UK argued that the deal should take into account the 65% reduction in effort put into catching cod British fishermen have made over the last four years.
The UK is arguing that any further reductions should take into account the 65% reduction in effort put into catching cod British fishermen have made over the last four years. UK Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw said the UK accepted there had to be further reductions in the cod catch, and that the stock was still in very poor shape, but he added that more cod had been born in 2005 than in any year since 1996.
Mr Bradshaw said the UK accepted that there had to be further reductions in the cod catch, and that the stock was still in very poor shape, but he added that more cod had been born in 2005 than in any year since 1996. "The agreement builds on the considerable cuts in cod catches already made in recent years.
"There are signs of recovery in cod," he said. "The impact on our fishing fleet will be more than compensated for by big increases in catches allowed for prawns, haddock, mackerel and monkfish - each of which is already more valuable than cod to our fishermen," he said.
Incomes rising
The annual meeting to set quotas tends to last well into the night because of the large number of fisheries that have to be discussed.
Contrary to the impression that is out there, our industry is doing very well UK fisheries minister Ben Bradshaw
Cod is now only the fifth most important catch for the UK, after prawns, mackerel, haddock and monkfish, all of which will see an increase in quotas in 2007.
"Contrary to the impression that is out there, our industry is doing very well," Mr Bradshaw said.
"Even with further cuts in cod, the industry is looking at a significant increase in incomes in 2007, and that follows two very good years in 2005 and 2006."
The Commission has proposed cuts in North Sea catches of 25% for herring, 15% for sole and 8% for plaice. It says reductions in fishing pressure are also necessary for southern hake, and shellfish in some regions.
In the Irish Sea, the quota for prawns is set to rise by 17%, and in western Scotland by 10%. The monkfish quota is also to increase by 10%.
Anchovy disputeAnchovy dispute
Among better news for fishermen in southern EU countries, the Commission is also proposing increasing the catch of northern hake by 15% and Bay of Biscay sole by 12% Among better news for fishermen in southern EU countries, the ministers agreed an increase in the catch of northern hake by 20% and Bay of Biscay sole by 12%.
However, plaice quotas were reduced by 12.5%.
'50 years left' for sea fish'50 years left' for sea fish
However, it says there should be a complete ban on anchovy fishing in the Bay of Biscay in the first half of 2007 - as there has been for most of the time since July 2005. The issue of anchovy fishing in the Bay of Biscay held up the deal. The Commission had wanted a complete ban in the first half of 2007 but was forced to yield some ground.
Reuters reports that Spain agrees with the commission, but France does not. In theory the ban will be in force but with "very limited and very carefully monitored" fishing permitted for a small number of vessels - 20 from Spain and eight from France.
Anchovy fishing was banned in the Bay of Biscay from July 2005 to the end of February 2006, and again from July 2006 to the end of this year.
The ministers have agreed to a cut of roughly 10% in the catch of bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean - in line with international agreements - but negotiations on the EU's share of this catch will be left until the end of January.The ministers have agreed to a cut of roughly 10% in the catch of bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean - in line with international agreements - but negotiations on the EU's share of this catch will be left until the end of January.
Environmentalists have urged ministers to heed the scientists' warnings about the threat to cod.
Outside the talks on Tuesday, demonstrators from the World Wide Fund for Nature handed out restaurant menus for the year 2050, predicting that the only fish meals available might be jellyfish and "tofu cod".Outside the talks on Tuesday, demonstrators from the World Wide Fund for Nature handed out restaurant menus for the year 2050, predicting that the only fish meals available might be jellyfish and "tofu cod".
However, the Commission says that a zero quota for cod would affect boats fishing for other species such as haddock, whiting and prawns, where some cod is caught unintentionally.However, the Commission says that a zero quota for cod would affect boats fishing for other species such as haddock, whiting and prawns, where some cod is caught unintentionally.
It says that it is unrealistic to completely close all these fisheries.It says that it is unrealistic to completely close all these fisheries.