Fisheries ministers have agreed the largest-ever cuts in fishing quotas to protect dwindling stocks

Date: 21/12/00

Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler said he was conscious they were tough measures which were likely to "cause hardship for fishermen", but insisted they were necessary to rebuild threatened stocks. The deal will see total catches of cod and haddock in the North Sea reduced by 30-40% while the hake quota will be cut by up to 55%. Other planned cuts were scaled back following protests from fishermen.