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Fishermen set for EU quota talks Ministers haggle over fish quotas
(about 2 hours later)
EU ministers are meeting to discuss annual fish catch limits against a backdrop of warnings of falling stocks. EU ministers are meeting to set fishing quotas for 2007 amid renewed calls for a total ban on catching cod.
Among those discussing the issue will be UK Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw. The European Commission has recommended a 25% cut in cod and North Sea herring catches, lower plaice and sole quotas, and a six-month ban on anchovy fishing.
Cutbacks including a 25% reduction in the cod quota and reductions in plaice, sole and hake allowances have been recommended by the European Commission. Scientists warned earlier this year that only a total ban on cod fishing would enable stocks to recover.
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. Environmentalists have urged ministers to listen to the warnings and "change course" on fisheries policies.
White fish stocks are most depleted in the North and Baltic Seas. However, European Commission spokeswoman Mireille Thom told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that it was also important to consider the fishing industry.
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. href="/1/hi/uk/6067722.stm" class="">UK fishing industry in figures "Obviously ending fishing... on cod would be most likely to give results, but we don't live in an ideal world," she said.
href="/1/hi/uk/6067722.stm" class="">UK fishing industry in figures "We have a fishing industry in Europe and the EU is committed to ensuring the future of that industry and therefore the approach that has been chosen so far is a gradual approach, trying to balance the need to protect and rebuild the cod stocks and allow a degree of activity for the fishing fleet."
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 talks are expected to continue for two days, with the haggling likely to continue into Wednesday night.
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%.
Mr Bradshaw has called the commission's recommendations "drastic", adding that he did not believe any European states would support the proposal. 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 href="/1/hi/scotland/north_east/6199534.stm" class="">Scottish fleet's fears href="/1/hi/scotland/north_east/6064616.stm" class="">Commissioner gives pledge
Mireille Thom is a spokeswoman for fisheries at the European Commission. UK Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw has called the commission's recommendations for a 25% cut "drastic", adding that he did not believe any European states would support the proposal.
"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.
"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."
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'
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."
Fragile ecosystem
The European Commission says recovery plans for northern hake and Bay of Biscay sole have been working, and is proposing an increase in quotas.
Many stocks remained overfished, including cod, plaice, sole, southern hake and Nephrops, and ... reductions in fishing pressure will be necessary if they are to recover European Commission It also says mackerel stocks are in good condition.
But it underlines scientists' warnings that "reductions in fishing pressure" will be necessary for the recovery of many other species, including cod, plaice, sole and southern hake.
The head of marine policy at the Royal Society for Protection of Birds, Euan Dunn, said fisheries ministers drove a stake deeper into the heart of the decimated cod stock ever year.
"We urge them to have a vision of our waters as a fragile ecosystem, and to show the political will to protect it," he said.
The Madrid-based conservation group Oceana also urged the ministers to "change course in their fisheries policy and begin to consider the warnings arriving from all sides of the scientific world".
But Ms Thom pointed out that cod is caught by boats fishing for other species including haddock, whiting and prawns.
"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," she said.
'Devastating'
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.
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.