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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| EU fish quota deal hammered out | EU fish quota deal hammered out |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| European Union ministers have reached a deal to regulate permitted fish catches in 2007, aimed at stimulating the recovery of depleted stocks. | European Union ministers have reached a deal to regulate permitted fish catches in 2007, aimed at stimulating the recovery of depleted stocks. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Cod will also be further protected by a cut in the days vessels spend at sea. | Cod will also be further protected by a cut in the days vessels spend at sea. |
| Scientists say stocks will only recover if there is a total ban on cod fishing, but politicians ruled this out. | 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. | "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. | "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%. | 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 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. | 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 figures | UK fishing industry in figures |
| The commission originally recommended a 25% cut in days at sea. A revised proposal of a 12% cut was also rejected. | |
| 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 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "The agreement builds on the considerable cuts in cod catches already made in recent years. | "The agreement builds on the considerable cuts in cod catches already made in recent years. |
| "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. | "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. |
| Anchovy dispute | Anchovy dispute |
| 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%. | 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%. | However, plaice quotas were reduced by 12.5%. |
| '50 years left' for sea fish | '50 years left' for sea fish |
| 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. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| 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. | |
| It says that it is unrealistic to completely close all these fisheries. | It says that it is unrealistic to completely close all these fisheries. |