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| Hope raised for EU fishing deal | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Fishing leaders hope they could be close to a deal in Brussels which would prevent the effective closure of large areas off the west coast of Scotland. | |
| Talks are continuing in an effort to reach a compromise which would reduce the impact of the European Commission's original plan. | Talks are continuing in an effort to reach a compromise which would reduce the impact of the European Commission's original plan. |
| The industry said it can use modified nets to protect threatened species. | The industry said it can use modified nets to protect threatened species. |
| Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said Scottish fishing communities had to be protected. | Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said Scottish fishing communities had to be protected. |
| About 2,000 jobs are thought to be at risk in Scottish ports. The west coast industry is also important to the north east of Scotland fleet. | About 2,000 jobs are thought to be at risk in Scottish ports. The west coast industry is also important to the north east of Scotland fleet. |
| See status of European fish stocks (2006) | See status of European fish stocks (2006) |
| Mr Lochhead said: "The closure of west coast fishing grounds proposed by the Commission would devastate communities. | Mr Lochhead said: "The closure of west coast fishing grounds proposed by the Commission would devastate communities. |
| "At any time these proposals would be difficult to accept, but in the current climate they would be an economic and social bombshell. | "At any time these proposals would be difficult to accept, but in the current climate they would be an economic and social bombshell. |
| "West coast fish stocks are worth around £85m to the Scottish economy and they also support many other businesses." | "West coast fish stocks are worth around £85m to the Scottish economy and they also support many other businesses." |
| EU fisheries ministers have been holding the annual round of talks to decide the quantities of fish which can be caught from Europe's seas in 2009. | EU fisheries ministers have been holding the annual round of talks to decide the quantities of fish which can be caught from Europe's seas in 2009. |
| The ministers, under pressure from environmentalists, have been considering changes that could limit discards, the practice of throwing fish overboard. | The ministers, under pressure from environmentalists, have been considering changes that could limit discards, the practice of throwing fish overboard. |
| Fish are often thrown back into the sea, dead or alive, because the quotas have already been exceeded. | Fish are often thrown back into the sea, dead or alive, because the quotas have already been exceeded. |
| The quota for North Sea cod is expected to be raised by 30%. | The quota for North Sea cod is expected to be raised by 30%. |
| Critics argue the practice of discarding does not make sense, as many fish stocks are in decline and fisheries are shrinking. | Critics argue the practice of discarding does not make sense, as many fish stocks are in decline and fisheries are shrinking. |
| Thousands of jobs have been lost in Europe's fisheries in the past decade - including about 4,000 in the UK. | Thousands of jobs have been lost in Europe's fisheries in the past decade - including about 4,000 in the UK. |
| Many claim stringent regulations imposed by the EU can be blamed. | Many claim stringent regulations imposed by the EU can be blamed. |
| However, environmental groups say stocks such as cod, tuna and herring have been fished almost to extinction in some European waters. | However, environmental groups say stocks such as cod, tuna and herring have been fished almost to extinction in some European waters. |
| They say the regulations, which represent a compromise between the industry's outlook and scientific advice, are dangerously complacent. | They say the regulations, which represent a compromise between the industry's outlook and scientific advice, are dangerously complacent. |
| The environmental lobby group Greenpeace said that unless Europe's remaining fishing fleet is cut in half, the industry has no long-term future. | The environmental lobby group Greenpeace said that unless Europe's remaining fishing fleet is cut in half, the industry has no long-term future. |
| The Commission said North Sea cod had benefited from "the good 2005 intake of young fish", allowing an increase in catches to be proposed in agreement with Norway. | The Commission said North Sea cod had benefited from "the good 2005 intake of young fish", allowing an increase in catches to be proposed in agreement with Norway. |
| Stocks of hake continue to grow, "demonstrating the benefits of long-term planning", the Commission said. | Stocks of hake continue to grow, "demonstrating the benefits of long-term planning", the Commission said. |
| But it noted that some other stocks, such as herring, are "in many areas in an extremely poor condition", and it proposes cuts of at least 25% for those types. | But it noted that some other stocks, such as herring, are "in many areas in an extremely poor condition", and it proposes cuts of at least 25% for those types. |
| Map shows proportion of fish types which are overfished (red) and types within safe biological limits (blue). Number in circle is number of fish stocks assessed in each region. Circle size corresponds to magnitude of regional catch. Data source: ICES and GFCM (international maritime organisations). Click to return | Map shows proportion of fish types which are overfished (red) and types within safe biological limits (blue). Number in circle is number of fish stocks assessed in each region. Circle size corresponds to magnitude of regional catch. Data source: ICES and GFCM (international maritime organisations). Click to return |