Cod catch ban 'to be resisted'

New fish quotas are agreed in December

The Scottish Fisheries Minister Rhona Brankin has warned her EU colleagues that fishermen will resist a total cod catch ban.

European ministers are understood to be considering a year long ban on all cod fishing in EU waters.

But Ms Brankin, who was at a meeting in Brussels on Friday to discuss the issue of dwindling fish stocks, believes another solution should be found.

The industry's leaders are of the same opinion - they say such a proposal would be unreasonable and unworkable.

The cod fish ban could feature as a part of a boarder package of measures which will be decided when the European Commission decided new catch quotas for next year.

Dwindling stocks of North Sea cod are now a clear concern for ministers in Brussels.

Cod stocks 'near collapse'

The Friday meeting was asked to agree to the annual deal over fishing rights with non-EU member Norway.

The 12-month deal allows Norwegian fishing boats access to the fish stocks of EU member countries.

Scientists are already warning that North Sea cod stocks in particular are near collapse and all European Union members are expecting some tough cutbacks in December.

At the meeting EU fisheries commissioner Franz Fischler outlined his thoughts on tackling that problem.

Earlier this week, fishermen from the EU's North Sea countries - including those from Scotland - sat down with scientists and advisers to discuss fishing quotas.

The Scottish Fishermen's Federation is hoping that, with direct input from fishermen, EU fisheries ministers will be persuaded to adopt a five-year strategy for fish conservation.