European Union fisheries ministers have reached political agreement on next year's fishing quotas at all night talks in Brussels. Talks were formally suspended early this morning with a provisional political agreement on a new set of quotas for 2005.
The European Commission had decided to go easier on the fishing industry this year, as initial scientific data showed the drastic cutbacks of previous years may be starting to pay off, with the first signs of recovery in the most endangered species like cod an Hake.
Nevertheless the Commission had sought a total ban on cod fishing in the Irish Sea, west of Scotland, the North Sea and the Baltic. But fisheries ministers rejected a total ban, accepting a one day a month reduction in the time spent each month fishing the species to 14 days.
However fishermen can continue to fish for 15 days if they use a bigger mesh size, allowing more immature cod to escape.
For Irish fishermen the main change is a 27% cut in the mackerel quota, which was well signalled in advance of these talks. In compensation they have been awarded a major increase in the less valuable blue whiting. There are also some increases in haddock, hake, monkfish and Dublin Bay prawns.
