EU Reaches Deal On Fishing Quotas

European Union ministers have reached a deal to reduce many of next year's fish quotas for overexploited species, while cautiously increasing others to ensure the livelihood of fishermen.

"I am delighted to say that we have reached an agreement for fish quotas for 2010," said Eskil Erlandsson, Agriculture Minister for Sweden, which holds the EU's rotating presidency.

"The quotas were based on scientific advice. Quotas have been reduced for sensitive stocks and cautiously increased for other stocks," Erlandsson told a news conference in Brussels.

NI interest hinged on a proposed 30% cut in the 2010 prawn quota for local fishing fleets, which in the event has been reduced to 9%.

Stormont Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Michelle Gildernew took part in negotiations in Brussels as part of the December Fisheries Council on Tuesday and, despite the reduction in the proposed cut, she said she was disappointed.

"Given the strength of our scientific evidence I believe that there should have been no cut, but the commission wouldn't move any further," she said.

Going further, Traditional Unionsist Voice Leader Jim Allister slammed the decision: "The 9% cut in prawn quota and the savage cut in days at sea are major and unwarranted blows to our industry," he said.

"This year the science was on our side but still the EU's slash and grab mentality prevailed.

"Another cumulative 25% cut in the cod quota, after years of such cuts, further devastates that sector in Northern Ireland, yet in the Republic they got away with no cut and whereas our Ministers accepted the status quo on herring, the Republic won a whopping 72% increase in the Celtic Sea.

"When the unreformed Hague Preference kicks in, the Republic will cream off even more benefit," he claimed.

Overall, the ministers agreed to cut total allowable catches for main species such as haddock, sole and cod by between 20 to 25% in 2010 from this year's volumes, and increased the number of hake catches by 15% as stock concerns ease.

"Although many reductions have been necessary, we have done our utmost to lessen the short-term burden for the fisheries sector," said EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Joe Borg.

The ministers also partially lifted a ban on anchovy fishing in the Bay of Biscay, requested by France and Spain, after a good indication of stock recovery following recent surveys.

"We have allowed for a fishery of 7,000 tonnes starting from January 2010, on understanding that this figure will move up or down depending on the outcome of scientific advice in spring," Mr Borg said.

Although many species remained overfished, a small but increasing number of stocks were now being fished at maximum sustainable yield levels, said Mr Borg, adding that overfishing was declining and could be phased out by 2015.

The EU maintained a total ban on fishing for porbeagle, a predatory shark, which it considers as critically endangered in the North Atlantic.

The deal reached on Tuesday is provisional until an agreement is reached with Norway.

(BMcC/KMcA)