EU to help fishermen cope with low stocks

AN action plan to cushion the effects of declining fish stocks and encourage more fishermen out of the industry was unveiled yesterday by the EU Commissioner Franz Fischler.

This follows a high-level scientific report saying fishing for cod, haddock and plaice must be halved or they will disappear.

Mr Fischler warns that 8,000 jobs in the fishing industry will be lost each year and fish stocks will become dangerously low if the industry and the Common Fisheries Policy is not restructured.