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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 'Fair' deal at fisheries summit | 'Fair' deal at fisheries summit |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A "fair settlement" has been reached on 2008 EU fishing quotas at the annual talks in Brussels, UK Fisheries Minister Jonathan Shaw has said. | A "fair settlement" has been reached on 2008 EU fishing quotas at the annual talks in Brussels, UK Fisheries Minister Jonathan Shaw has said. |
| The European Commission had sought a 25% cut to fishing days off the west coast of Scotland, and a 10% reduction to fishing days in the North Sea. | The European Commission had sought a 25% cut to fishing days off the west coast of Scotland, and a 10% reduction to fishing days in the North Sea. |
| But a deal was reached to make cuts of 18% and 10% respectively, with an 11% rise in the North Sea cod catch. | |
| Crews will also be "given back" days at sea for helping conservation measures. | |
| Dwindling stocks | |
| This is the first time such a conservation credit scheme has been approved by the Commission. | This is the first time such a conservation credit scheme has been approved by the Commission. |
| Richard Lochhead, Scottish Rural Affairs and Environment Secretary, said the scheme "rewards the responsible leadership our industry has shown in implementing innovative measures to reduce discards and protect juvenile stocks. | Richard Lochhead, Scottish Rural Affairs and Environment Secretary, said the scheme "rewards the responsible leadership our industry has shown in implementing innovative measures to reduce discards and protect juvenile stocks. |
| Scotland is also to be given more control over the allocation of days at sea. | Scotland is also to be given more control over the allocation of days at sea. |
| Fisheries deal highlights for UK: 50% increase in Rockall haddock quota11% increase in North Sea cod quota5% increase in Irish Sea haddock quota8% increase in North Sea megrim quota | |
| Previous cuts mean Scottish vessels currently fish for the equivalent of just two-and-a-half days a week. | Previous cuts mean Scottish vessels currently fish for the equivalent of just two-and-a-half days a week. |
| "My aim is to have a new system up and running by the start of February and I will work closely with the industry in the month ahead," said Mr Lochhead. | "My aim is to have a new system up and running by the start of February and I will work closely with the industry in the month ahead," said Mr Lochhead. |
| The talks, which ended at dawn and lasted for more than 20 hours, approved plans to allow fishermen to adopt "tailor-made measures" that would best suit them. | The talks, which ended at dawn and lasted for more than 20 hours, approved plans to allow fishermen to adopt "tailor-made measures" that would best suit them. |
| They also backed the idea of "real-time closures" of parts of the sea that have been over-fished. | They also backed the idea of "real-time closures" of parts of the sea that have been over-fished. |
| 'Immoral' dumping | |
| This would mean temporarily taking out of circulation areas where fishermen report large numbers of under-size fish, that need to be preserved in order to support the long-term recovery of stocks. | This would mean temporarily taking out of circulation areas where fishermen report large numbers of under-size fish, that need to be preserved in order to support the long-term recovery of stocks. |
| Those crews that take part in the scheme would be given back some of the 10% reduction in the days they are allowed out at sea. | Those crews that take part in the scheme would be given back some of the 10% reduction in the days they are allowed out at sea. |
| The talks also began to take action against what Mr Shaw described as the "immoral" dumping of dead fish back in the sea. | The talks also began to take action against what Mr Shaw described as the "immoral" dumping of dead fish back in the sea. |
| Mr Shaw said: "Today's agreement acknowledges efforts by our fishermen to find new ways to safeguard stocks and to prevent large amounts of the fish they catch having to be thrown back dead into the sea. | Mr Shaw said: "Today's agreement acknowledges efforts by our fishermen to find new ways to safeguard stocks and to prevent large amounts of the fish they catch having to be thrown back dead into the sea. |
| Everyone worked together for a fair deal that has benefits for fishermen throughout the UK Fisheries Minister Jonathan Shaw | |
| "The UK has shown that its fishermen are committed to finding new ways of protecting vulnerable stocks. | "The UK has shown that its fishermen are committed to finding new ways of protecting vulnerable stocks. |
| "We wanted to avoid cuts to days at sea for our fishermen, but the overall deal that we achieved offsets some of those agreed. | "We wanted to avoid cuts to days at sea for our fishermen, but the overall deal that we achieved offsets some of those agreed. |
| "Everyone worked together for a fair deal that has benefits for fishermen throughout the UK." | "Everyone worked together for a fair deal that has benefits for fishermen throughout the UK." |
| The deep cuts in the number of days at sea were being sought by the Commission amid warnings from environmentalists about dwindling stocks. | The deep cuts in the number of days at sea were being sought by the Commission amid warnings from environmentalists about dwindling stocks. |
| But tighter controls have been resisted by some countries owing to soaring fish prices. | But tighter controls have been resisted by some countries owing to soaring fish prices. |