EU warns of cod stocks collapse

Cod stocks have been devastated by over-fishing

By Janet Barrie BBC correspondent in Brussels

A panel of scientific experts from the European Union is expected to deliver a report on Monday warning that cod stocks in the North Sea are close to collapse.

Cod is often caught with other fish by mistake

It follows a report from an independent body of scientists last month recommending a total ban on fishing for cod, haddock and whiting in some EU waters.

The report will be presented to fisheries ministers from across the EU who will meet next month to decide on fishing quotas.

The EU's scientific committee is expected to say that years of over-fishing are responsible for the collapse in cod stocks.

Job cuts threat

There are many people here who hope its report will echo one published last month which recommended a total ban on fishing for cod in the North Sea and a moratorium on catching other species such as haddock and whiting, among which cod is often caught by mistake.

Proposed job cuts have lead to protests by fishermen

The European Commission has criticised EU governments who it says have failed to heed doom-laden predictions about fish stocks in the past.

Fishermen's leaders say that if a ban is put in place the industry faces ruin - between 10,000 and 20,000 jobs could go, they say.

The commission admits the social and economic effects of such draconian measures would be great - last week, it earmarked $600m to help fishermen hurt by plans to reform the fishing industry.

Fishermen pressure

This report will be scrutinised by governments across the EU who will meet here next month for the annual allocation of fishing quotas.

Some, like Britain, are under strong pressure from their fishermen to resist attempts to cut quotas.

However, the Commission warns that fish stocks are at such dangerously low levels, postponing drastic measures is no longer an option.