EU Reaches 2006 Fish Quota Deal

December 22, 2005

Release from: Reuters

BRUSSELS, Belgium - EU fisheries ministers struck a compromise deal on Thursday over maximum 2006 catches, signing up to restrictions on days that trawlers spend at sea to prevent overfished species like cod disappearing from European waters.

Despite advice from scientists for a blanket ban on cod fishing in areas like the North Sea and western Scottish waters, the ministers agreed to average cuts of 15 percent.

The European Commission, which administers the EU's fishing policy, was forced to offer slight increases in its initial catch proposals along with a few seasonal closures of waters to protect overfished species whose numbers are worryingly low.

Trawlers that target species like haddock and monkfish will also be limited in the days they may spend at sea to stop them picking up too much cod by accident, with reductions ranging from 5 to 10 percent in the number of permitted days per year.

"The agreement reached will provide greater protection for the species most threatened. Overall fishing possibilities will be reduced ... also for those species for which cod is a by-catch," EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg said.

Over the two days of negotiations, Borg yielded more ground from his original quota plan by offering slight rises in catch allowances to win over reluctant states like France and Spain and brokering a deal over anchovy in the Bay of Biscay.

The species is so depleted in this area that the Commission will now close waters until March. If stocks have not recovered sufficiently by this time, the closure will be extended.