Fishermen furious at planned restrictions

The North Sea could see still tougher fishing restrictions

Fishing leaders have warned hundreds of boat crews will be forced out of business if newly proposed European fishing restrictions are introduced.

The European Commission is proposing major fishing restrictions be introduced on a huge area of sea stretching from Norway to the west of Shetland.

The commission said the restricted catch area will help the implementation of reduced quotas agreed by fishing ministers in Brussels last month.

But the planned move has provoked a furious response from the Scottish fishermen who said it will devastate the industry.

Hamish Morrison: Worried about future prospects

The area targeted for the proposed restrictions provides the Scottish white fish fleet with at least 40% of its annual catch.

Hamish Morrison of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation said the proposals affected "a huge area which is overwhelmingly worked by Scottish vessels".

"This kind of proposal is bound to take out many hundreds of Scottish vessels and most of them wouldn't really survive beyond the end of the first year."

The Scottish Executive said the restrictions are just proposals, and that the fishing industry will have its say when they are discussed in Brussels next week.

Significant reductions in quotas were announced in December after scientists warned North Sea fish stocks were in danger of collapse.

Cod quotas for this year were cut by nearly 50% and catches of hake were reduced by up to 41%.