EU Cuts Agreed

As usual the talks went late into the night.

As usual the cuts fell far short of the scientific advice.

As usual the cuts were higher than the catching sector can stand.

The headline is a 14% cut in the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for cod (ICES advise a zero catch, as it has done for the last 5 years.  The original EU proposal was for a 25% cut).

Days at sea to be reduced by between 7 and 10% (originally the EU proposed a 20% cut).

The TAC for some species (prawns, mackerel, haddock, monkfish) has been increased.

:: A 20% increase for South West England hake catches.

:: A 17% increase for Irish Sea prawns;

B:: A 13% increase for mackerel:

:: A 10% rise in North Sea and West of Scotland monkfish.

:: A 6% increase for South West England monkfish.

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B B C - EU fish quota deal hammered out

The Reading Chronicle - European fish quota deal reached

FishUpdate.com - Finnie Defends Compromise Deal

FishUpdate.com - Fish deal is "shocking" says Park

B B C - Fishing quota deal 'good for UK'

B B C - Video Report

B B C - Fishing deal 'a nail in coffin'

B B C - Fishing cuts will 'save industry'

B B C - Audio Report (Ben Bradshaw & Bertie Armstrong)

DEFRA - UK welcomes 2007 Euro deal

The Guardian - EU ignores calls for cod fishing ban

The Times - Fishermen hit out at EU deal

The Independent - Fishermen angered by new EU quotas deal

New Scientist - EU fish-quota fight finds unhappy compromise

Marine Conservation Society - Eu Fish Stocks Continue Down A Slippery Slope