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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fishermen set for EU quota talks | Fishermen set for EU quota talks |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| EU ministers are meeting to discuss annual fish catch limits against a backdrop of warnings of falling stocks. | EU ministers are meeting to discuss annual fish catch limits against a backdrop of warnings of falling stocks. |
| Among those discussing the issue will be UK Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw. | Among those discussing the issue will be UK Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw. |
| Cutbacks including a 25% reduction in the cod quota and reductions in plaice, sole and hake allowances have been recommended by the European Commission. | Cutbacks including a 25% reduction in the cod quota and reductions in plaice, sole and hake allowances have been recommended by the European Commission. |
| For the fifth year running, scientists have warned nothing short of a total ban on fishing for the most depleted species will ensure stock recovery. | For the fifth year running, scientists have warned nothing short of a total ban on fishing for the most depleted species will ensure stock recovery. |
| White fish stocks are most depleted in the North and Baltic Seas. | White fish stocks are most depleted in the North and Baltic Seas. |
| The commission has rejected calls for a ban on fishing for North Sea cod and the latest talks will decide on the permitted days at sea for most vessels targeting white fish. | The commission has rejected calls for a ban on fishing for North Sea cod and the latest talks will decide on the permitted days at sea for most vessels targeting white fish. |
| UK fishing industry in figures | |
| The BBC's Emma Jane Kirby said: "Setting the quota levels is no easy task for European ministers, who have to balance the need for conservation against the need to protect Europe's struggling fishing industry." | The BBC's Emma Jane Kirby said: "Setting the quota levels is no easy task for European ministers, who have to balance the need for conservation against the need to protect Europe's struggling fishing industry." |
| British fishermen are calling for a rollover of this year's imposed restrictions, which reduced cod catches by 15%, despite the commission's calls for a 25% reduction. | British fishermen are calling for a rollover of this year's imposed restrictions, which reduced cod catches by 15%, despite the commission's calls for a 25% reduction. |
| Mr Bradshaw has called the commission's recommendations "drastic", adding that he did not believe any European states would support the proposal. | Mr Bradshaw has called the commission's recommendations "drastic", adding that he did not believe any European states would support the proposal. |
| Mireille Thom is a spokeswoman for fisheries at the European Commission. | Mireille Thom is a spokeswoman for fisheries at the European Commission. |
| "Obviously ending all fishing on cod would be most likely to get results but we don't live in an ideal world," she said. | "Obviously ending all fishing on cod would be most likely to get results but we don't live in an ideal world," she said. |
| You get to a point where if you go too far you simply plunge the fleet into a non-viable position Scottish Fisherman's Federation | |
| "We have a fishing industry in Europe and the EU is committed to ensuring the future of that industry. | "We have a fishing industry in Europe and the EU is committed to ensuring the future of that industry. |
| "There has been a cod recovery plan in place since the beginning of 2004. The problem with cod is that it is caught, despite the selective fishing gear that can be used... in many other fisheries. | "There has been a cod recovery plan in place since the beginning of 2004. The problem with cod is that it is caught, despite the selective fishing gear that can be used... in many other fisheries. |
| "Cod is caught when you're catching haddock or whiting or prawns or other fish. If ministers were to decide that that's it, we're going to stop all catches of cod, then you have to stop all these fisheries." | "Cod is caught when you're catching haddock or whiting or prawns or other fish. If ministers were to decide that that's it, we're going to stop all catches of cod, then you have to stop all these fisheries." |
| The Scottish Fisherman's Federation (SFF) has said the Commission's recommendations, which could mean trawlers may only be allowed to work for two-and-a-half days each week, made no sense because many stocks are in robust health. | The Scottish Fisherman's Federation (SFF) has said the Commission's recommendations, which could mean trawlers may only be allowed to work for two-and-a-half days each week, made no sense because many stocks are in robust health. |
| 'Non-viable' | 'Non-viable' |
| Ross Finnie, Scotland's fisheries minister, added: "We have trimmed back so much, you get to a point where if you go too far you simply plunge the fleet into a non-viable position." | Ross Finnie, Scotland's fisheries minister, added: "We have trimmed back so much, you get to a point where if you go too far you simply plunge the fleet into a non-viable position." |
| John Buchan, a fisherman based in Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, told the Today programme any further cuts would be devastating. | John Buchan, a fisherman based in Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, told the Today programme any further cuts would be devastating. |
| "We need every day out we can get. We just survived this year, on the days that we had," he said. | "We need every day out we can get. We just survived this year, on the days that we had," he said. |
| "If they cut it by 25% I can say this, no-one in the Scottish fleet would be viable." | "If they cut it by 25% I can say this, no-one in the Scottish fleet would be viable." |
| Fishermen from Northern Ireland are also set to take an active role in the talks, with County Down-based trawlermen pushing for a 20% increase in their prawn catch. | Fishermen from Northern Ireland are also set to take an active role in the talks, with County Down-based trawlermen pushing for a 20% increase in their prawn catch. |
| Northern Irish prawn boats are currently allowed 220 days at sea but fishermen fear that number may now be reduced. | Northern Irish prawn boats are currently allowed 220 days at sea but fishermen fear that number may now be reduced. |