Fish deal put forward in Brussels (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

EU officials have tabled a compromise at talks to set fish quotas for 2007, which would cut cod catches by 25% but reduce days at sea by only 20%.

Scottish fishermen's leader Bertie Armstrong said the idea was "still worrying", but added that the negotiations were at an early stage.

Environmentalists have called for a total ban on cod fishing, but fishermen say a 25% cut would be "devastating".

The talks resume on Wednesday afternoon and are likely to last into the night.

A European Commission spokeswoman, Mireille Thom, said the compromise had been put forward because some member states, including the UK, thought the original proposal - of a 25% cut in the quantity of cod caught, matched by a 25% cut in days at sea - was too harsh.


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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6194425.stm