Britain's fishing fleet on the edge as EU looks to save cod

Britain's fishermen were facing unprecedented restrictions on the number of days they can spend at sea last night, as ministers haggled over how to save fish stocks in EU waters from total collapse.

Faced with a recommendation from scientists for a total ban on fishing cod to preserve the species from extinction, negotiations were in their fourth day yesterday. Britain was fighting a proposal from the Danish presidency of the EU that would result in fishermen tying up their boats for three weeks out of four, and for a 65 per cent reduction in the white fish quota for those boats that are allowed to put to sea.

That plan, which would take effect in February and run until June, was described as "unacceptable" by the Government. But the Fisheries minister, Elliot Morley, knows that if there is no deal with his fellow ministers, the European Commission could impose its own, temporary solution, including a total ban. Officials say the minister is trying to balance the knowledge that stocks are exhausted, with the need to ensure that the outcome does not destroy the British fleet.

The UK argues that last year it decommissioned 10 per cent of its fleet but that this has not been taken into account in calculations. The Government says that means the UK ought not be hit as hard as is being proposed by any plan to restrict days at sea.

EU officials confirmed the plan to limit days at sea was still on the table although more flexibility had been added. The EU is divided on how to proceed. France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Ireland have formed a tight unit as the "Friends of Fishing," rejecting plans to drastically cut fish quotas and curtail subsidies to the EU fleet of 100,000 vessels.

Other nations, such as Germany, Sweden and Denmark, back the advice of international scientists who say that cod stocks in key waters have dwindled to less than 20 per cent of their annual catch potential and believe the EU should take heed of the disastrous situation off the Canadian coast, where the species all but disappeared.

"They have to do something good for the fish. Otherwise there is no way we can agree," said Renate Künast, Germany's fisheries minister.