This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/6192071.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Ministers haggle over fish quotas Ministers haggle over fish quotas
(about 1 hour later)
EU ministers are meeting to set fishing quotas for 2007 amid renewed calls for a total ban on catching cod.EU ministers are meeting to set fishing quotas for 2007 amid renewed calls for a total ban on catching cod.
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. The European Commission began by recommending a 25% cut in cod and North Sea herring catches, but has reportedly dropped this to 20%.
Scientists warned earlier this year that only a total ban on cod fishing would enable stocks to recover.Scientists warned earlier this year that only a total ban on cod fishing would enable stocks to recover.
Environmentalists have urged ministers to listen to the warnings and "change course" on fisheries policies.Environmentalists have urged ministers to listen to the warnings and "change course" on fisheries policies.
However, European Commission spokeswoman Mireille Thom told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that it was also important to consider the fishing industry.However, European Commission spokeswoman Mireille Thom told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that it was also important to consider the fishing industry.
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.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.
"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.""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 talks are expected to continue for two days, with the haggling likely to continue into Wednesday night.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%.British fishermen are calling for a rollover of this year's imposed restrictions, which reduced cod catches by 15%.
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 Scottish fleet's fears Commissioner gives pledgeYou get to a point where if you go too far you simply plunge the fleet into a non-viable position Scottish Fisherman's Federation Scottish fleet's fears Commissioner gives pledge
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.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.
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, said: "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."
A few hours after the talks began, BBC Scotland reported that the commission had amended its proposal for a 25% cut in fishing days to 20% instead.
Chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation Bertie Armstrong said this was "still worrying", but pointed out it was only the first stage of the negotiations.
Fragile ecosystemFragile 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.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 '50 years left' for sea fish It also says mackerel stocks are in good condition.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 '50 years left' for sea fish 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.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.
It proposes a complete ban on anchovy fishing in the first half of 2007.
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 every year.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 every 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."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".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.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."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''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.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.