The European Commission is proposing big cuts in fishing catches to protect stocks. The proposed cuts are designed to benefit cod and hake in particular. EU Fisheries Commissioner, Franz Fischler, said that catches, especially in the Irish and North Seas, would have to be reduced by half to prevent the two types of fish disappearing. The Commission believes a long-term plan to scale back fishing fleets is the only effective response, despite admitting some fishing businesses will go bust.
