EU reaches deal on 2004 fish catches ( 2003-12-19 17:13) (Agencies)
EU fisheries ministers agreed
fish catches for 2004 Friday and limited days when trawlers may go to sea, a
compromise between saving endangered species like cod and keeping fishermen
financially afloat, EU officials said.
After all-night talks, the bloc's 15 ministers modified plans for severe
quota reductions for cod -- a fish at risk of extinction in EU waters with
stocks at the lowest ever recorded -- in some waters off Denmark and also
western Scotland.
Germany and Sweden voted against the proposed fishing quotas for next year,
while Greece abstained. There was unanimous agreement on long-term stock
recovery plans for cod and northern hake, two of the EU's most endangered
species.
Ministers worked through the night for some 30 hours to thrash out a
compromise, in the bloc's traditional marathon of haggling to fix national
fishing rights for the coming year.
France had held out to the last to get a better deal for its fishermen,
officials said.
