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Andrew Osborn in Brussels
17th December 2002
The Guardian
Britain's fishermen were watching anxiously as EU fisheries ministers yesterday embarked on the most important talks on the crisis-hit industry in the last 20 years.
Faced with the most severe collapse of fish stocks yet, the ministers are confronted with a challenge to save the EU's fish and its fishermen from ruin.
The Brussels meeting, which is expected to last for five days, will determine the future of the industry for the next 20 years and is regarded as a make-or-break point for the EU's failing common fisheries policy.
It will consider imposing cuts in catch quotas of up to 80%, seek to kickstart stalled recovery plans for dangerously depleted stocks such as cod and try to thrash out the most radical reform of the fisheries policy since its inception.
To the horror of Britain's fishermen the European commission is taking a hard line. It wants the number of cod caught in the North Sea to be cut by 66%, haddock in the same waters by 70%, whiting by 76% and plaice and sole together by 17%.
For the west of Scotland the figures are even worse. The commission said cod catches there should be slashed by 79%.
Britain, represented by the fisheries minister, Elliot Morley, opposes such quota cuts, arguing that they are not backed by scientific evidence. "I am alarmed by the proposals," he said. "[What is being proposed] goes too far and doesn't appear to take into account what the UK has done to address declining stocks.
"There are going to be some tough negotiations. I have no problem making difficult decisions and am fully supportive of the commission's conservation approach. To ignore the science would be irresponsible. But nor will I ignore the plight of our fishermen."
If the meeting fails to produce what the commission regards as a responsible, well balanced deal it could choose to invoke its emergency powers and impose its own unilateral solutions.
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