Drastic cuts in prawn and cod catches recommended

COD stocks were brought closer to extinction over the past year, warns the European Commission, which recommends that catches be cut by a quarter next year.

But while this is bad news for Irish fishermen, they say a 30% cut proposed for prawns is even more drastic.

Prawn is their second-biggest catch after mackerel and this huge reduction spells trouble for much of the industry.