TERRA.WIRE
Britain attacks 'devastating' EU proposals to ban cod fishing
 BRUSSELS (AFP) Dec 20, 2004
 Britain strongly attacked Monday "devastating" proposals by the European Union executive to ban cod fishing in parts of the North Sea as EU fisheries ministers prepared for annual talks on quotas.

"We have a cod recovery plan," British fisheries minister Ben Bradshaw told reporters on the eve of a two-day EU meeting that promises to be a marathon negotiating session.

"It's been extremely painful for the United Kingdom and Scotland in particular, far more than any other nation state involved in fishing in the North Sea, and we should let that have an impact before we discuss or move to any more drastic measures," he said.

The European Commission two weeks ago presented its proposals for 2005 fishing quotas by EU member states, envisaging further cuts in the allowable catches of vulnerable species such as cod, and outright bans in some waters.

The EU executive argues that tough measures are needed to get dangerously low levels of species such as cod back up to safe numbers.

But Bradshaw, arguing that the Brussels proposals were not based on good science, called instead for "tighter controls, tighter enforcement, and a tighter scientific monitoring of discards of cod".

Britain has tabled counter-proposals with France to regulate sole fishing in the western English Channel, and expects to receive support from other countries against the commission's ideas as a whole.

"I don't myself detect a huge appetite for the sort of drastic measures which the commission are recommending," Bradshaw said, accusing Brussels of ignoring the advice of newly established regional councils in EU nations.

"It's not good politics. I think we will have allies on this," he said.

Among other EU members, France, Ireland, Poland, Portugal and Spain have also come out against the commission's plans.

The EU executive wants cod fishing banned in parts of the North Sea, the Kattegat-Skagerrak waters of the Baltic, the eastern English Channel, west of Scotland and the Irish Sea.

Restrictions would remain on fishing for haddock and whiting in the North Sea and west of Scotland, smaller species that are often a by-product of cod fishing.

For other species that are showing signs of recovery, such as southern hake, sole and North Sea plaice, less stringent restrictions and quotas are foreseen.