Ministers to slash fish quotas

EU fisheries ministers will agree major cuts in catches of endangered species such as cod and whiting next week, despite protests from the fishing industry about job losses.

Officials expect member states to sign up to massive reductions in catches to prevent some stocks collapsing altogether.

'Ministers have realised that the writing is finally on the wall. If they do not take drastic measures now, there may not be a fishery there at all,' said one.

The European Commission has proposed cutting catches by up to 75% next year for the most at-risk species around the UK, prompting warnings that this would result in hundreds of jobs being lost. 'It would be a near- fatal blow for large parts of the industry,' said Ian Duncan of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation.

But fisheries officials claim that behind the rhetoric, the industry accepts the need for drastic action. 'When they are only catching 60% of their quotas, as they did last year, they recognise steps have to be taken to protect the stocks,' said one.

However, officials predict a major battle between ministers at next Thursday's (14 December) meeting over planned cuts in catches of other species such as haddock and prawns.

The Commission wants to reduce the quotas for these fish because vessels trawling for them often catch at-risk species by accident. But fishermen argue that they will go out of business if they cannot catch large quantities of these species.

The Commission is expected to impose additional controls early next year to ensure at-risk species can build up numbers. It is likely to close grounds where adult fish breed, ban the use of fine nets to ensure young fish are not caught, and bar vessels from fishing in the breeding season.