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'Fair' deal in fisheries summit 'Fair' deal at fisheries summit
(40 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 BBC Scotland's David Porter in Brussels said a deal was reached to make cuts of 18% and 10% respectively. But a deal was reached to make cuts of 18% and 10% respectively, with an 11% rise in the North Sea cod quota.
There will also be an increase in the North Sea cod quota of 11%. Crews will also be "given back" says at sea for helping conservation measures.
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.
Dwindling stocksDwindling stocks
David Porter said the European Commission (EC) has for the first time approved a conservation credit scheme. Scotland is also to be given more control over the allocation of days at sea.
The move would mean that if fishermen take part in various measures to conserve stocks, they are likely to be "given back" some of their days at sea.
It also appears that Scotland is to be given more control over the allocation of days at sea - a kind of devolution of fishing policy, he said.
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.
Everyone worked together for a fair deal that has benefits for fishermen throughout the UK Fisheries Minister Jonathan ShawEveryone worked together for a fair deal that has benefits for fishermen throughout the UK Fisheries Minister Jonathan Shaw
"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.
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.
'Immoral' dumping'Immoral' dumping
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: "The UK has shown that its fishermen are committed to finding new ways of protecting vulnerable stocks. 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.
"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.
"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.""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.