A new study has found that EU fisheries subsidies have encouraged over-fishing and helped maintain an over-capacity in the industry.
The study was carried out in ten European countries, which accounted for almost all €4.9bn of fishing subsidies handed out by Brussels from 2000 to 2006.
The researchers, from the Poseidon Aquatic Resource and the Pew Environment Group, said changes to the funding and reporting systems meant such a study covering more recent years would be impossible to carry out.
According to their report, 29% of the EU handouts went to measures which contributed to overfishing, such as modernisation of fleets, vessel construction, while just 17% was dedicated to measures to support healthy fisheries such as scrapping and temporary fishing bans.
