THE fishing industry voiced guarded approval yesterday after European Union ministers agreed a reduction in cod landings but stopped short of demands for the closure of key fishing grounds.

Environmentalists accused the EU of “draining the life out of the North Sea” after ministers agreed to the continued fishing of depleted cod stocks, even though the amount that can be caught is to be reduced by 15 per cent.

After two days of round-the-clock talks in Brussels, Ben Bradshaw, the Fisheries Minister, said that the deal represented the best balance between the need to protect stocks and to preserve jobs. As well as the cut in the cod quota, reductions were also announced for haddock, herring and whiting to take effect on January 1.

Mr Bradshaw, who chaired the meeting, said: “I believe this agreement, in line with the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy, will help to conserve fish stocks, preserve the marine environment and help the long-term future of the fishing industry.”

Joe Borg, the EU Fisheries Commissioner, said: “All the measures adopted today confirmed our gradual approach, which allows for the recovery and protection of stocks and a continuation of fishing.”

Thousands of jobs have been lost in Britain’s fishing industry over five years, during which time the country’s share of the allowable catch for cod has been slashed from nearly 50,000 tonnes to 20,180 for next year. North Sea cod stocks have fallen to their lowest level since records began in the 1960s and are now on the brink of extinction.

Although scientists gave warning that stocks were still “well below” minimum recommended levels, ministers refused to endorse their calls for the closure of fishing grounds.

In a sign that years of economising by British fleets may at last be paying off, a reduction in the number of days that British vessels are allowed to spend at sea each year was capped at two, from 180 to 178, while the catch for North Sea prawns was increased by 32 per cent to 1,418 tonnes. Quotas for Irish Sea monkfish and hake were also given modest rises.

Mike Park, chairman of the Scottish White Fish Producers’ Association, admitted that the deal was “about as good as could have been achieved”. He added: “In reality, it does mean a reduction in the income of some sections of the fleet. But it’s a balanced package and I think there are opportunities at the start of next year where we can maybe recover some of the ground as well.”

Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, said that the 13 per cent reduction in the haddock quota was a blow. “Haddock is a significant stock for the Scottish fleet,” he said. “It is a disappointment as the science carried out suggested that haddock was at full reproductive capacity.”

Environmentalists said that the EU’s decision to ignore scientific advice on cod stocks was irresponsible. “If fishing for cod is to be allowed to continue, then cod will be wiped out and the UK cod fishing industry will be destroyed,” a spokesman for Greenpeace said. “This repeated failure to act decisively is slowly but surely draining the life out of the North Sea.”

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• In Margot Fonteyn's footsteps
• Forget beautiful people, let's have wonky Brits
• Fundamentalist brew: faith and power