Fisheries minister Elliot Morley has said the UK has won "the best deal possible" in talks which have slashed European fish catch quotas.

Ministers from EU governments have agreed the biggest cuts in the quotas for years after 17 hours of talks in Brussels.

Mr Morley emerged from the meeting in the early hours of Friday morning and said he wished the industry could be given higher catch limits.

But he said: "The fish are not there. Some of our most important stocks are in poor shape."

The EU agreement slashed the total catch of Irish Sea cod next year by 62%, and cod in the North Sea by 39%.

North Sea whiting catches must fall by nearly 32%, saithe by nearly 23% and haddock by 18%.

Permitted cod and whiting catches off the west of Scotland fall by about one third.

Mr Morley said it was vital to "break the damaging cycle of falling stocks and reduced quotas".

"What we must do is put in place the management and conservation measures which will restore stocks," he said.

He announced a recovery plan to revive stocks of cod in the Irish Sea which, according to scientists, are severely depleted and in danger of total collapse.

The British and Irish governments will work together on the plan, which will be introduced next year.

It will involve the closure of some traditional cod fishing zones, particularly in spawning areas.

The Northern Ireland Assembly is involved in the arrangements, and fisheries minister Brid Rodgers was at the Brussels talks for the first time.

'Very difficult quota round'

Mr Morley insisted he had reduced the hardship for fishing communities by successfully arguing for smaller catch cuts than the commission had demanded, saying the UK's "measured approach" had helped net Britain's fishing fleets extra fish worth £30m.

He said: "This will help the industry cope with what has been a very difficult quota round."

Loss of fishing opportunities

A proposal was for a 89% cut in Irish Sea cod was not taken forward, but even the 60% compromise figure could threaten fishing communities as it incomes are cut dramatically.

Mr Morley said: "The short-term impact will be a loss of fishing opportunities on some important stocks.

"But on current trends fishermen can expect higher fish prices, and for the medium to long-term we have put in place more responsible and flexible management of the Common Fisheries Policy."

The European Commission said the cuts had to be made if stocks were to be fished "in a sustainable manner".

Before the talks fishermen's leaders had warned that the commission's plans could wipe £90m off total annual income of £660m.

The talks saw French fisheries and agriculture minister Jean Glavany - fresh from bruising encounters with Britain over beef - storm out before the end of the meeting when he was denied a bigger anchovy quota.