EU warns of 'drastic measures' on cod

British fisherman are losing patience with quota cuts

The European Union has agreed "drastic measures" will have to be taken to save Europe's cod stocks from total collapse.

But the measures will stop short of an outright ban on cod fishing which would have decimated the British fishing industry and left punters without their cod and chips, the British fisheries minister has said.

Elliot Morley said: "There is no dispute that we have a major problem with cod, but cod are still going to be landed."

It follows a European Commission warning that supplies in the North Sea and off the West of Scotland are in "severe danger of collapse".

EU fishery ministers meeting in Brussels agreed the next round of fish quotas, which are due to be finalised on 14 and 15 December, will have to reflect the seriousness of the situation.

Total allowable catch

It is expected the total allowable catch (TAC) will be drastically reduced for cod next year and banned in some fishing grounds.

EU Agriculture and Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler said: "Scientists have given us a very clear message: cod stocks are on the verge of depletion, and drastic measures are needed to guarantee their future.

Elliot Morley says a complete ban on cod is unlikely

"Scientific advice that we have compels us to take drastic measures to protect the species."

He warned of "difficult times ahead" for EU fishermen.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has identified cod stocks in British waters as being "outside safe biological limits" and in danger of collapse.

World Wildlife Foundation

The WWF has blamed overfishing, climate change and environmental pollution for the problem in British waters.

The latest round of belt-tightening for the trawlermen follows years of EU-imposed catch restrictions which have failed to deliver the promised revival of dwindling stocks of key commercial fish species.

The debate is likely to trigger calls to scrap the Common Fisheries Policy which first carved up Europe's coastal waters, 60% of which are British.

At preliminary talks in Brussels on Saturday, Mr Morley is expected to emphasise the need to offer a line of hope to the British fishing fleet which has run out of patience with promises of a brighter future.

Cod stocks have plummeted

The fishermen blame poor enforcement of the EU quota rules, and say foreign vessels have been registering in the UK to claim their stake in the "British" annual quota.

The Scottish Fish Merchants' Federation fears quota cuts could see the loss of up to 500 jobs in the north-east of Scotland, where about 3,000 people work in the processing industry.

Mr Morley will have no option but to agree with the Commission's call for urgent action, coupling quota cuts with a revised system of limiting the number of days at sea.

Consultation needed

A complete ban on cod fishing is seen as even harder to enforce than the current range of catch restrictions on all main fish species trawled in EU waters.

But fishermen will be told yet again this year that they must suffer the further cutbacks to ensure their industry in still viable in the future.