Storm over 80% cut in fishing quotas

European plans to slash fishing levels by up to 80% to conserve dwindling marine stocks are “tainted by political interference”, it was claimed tonight.

In a storm of protest as talks got under way in Brussels, fishermen from seven nations flatly rejected scientific evidence that cod had been over-fished to virtual extinction in the North Sea.

They warned they would not be forced out of business on the basis of “incorrect and old” information and called for a new study of the real state of whitefish stocks before accepting cuts.

The European Fishing Action Group was set up just a week ago by fishermen from the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, France and the Netherlands.

Its aim is to prevent cuts of up to 80% in fishing for cod, haddock and whiting, and cuts of 40% for plaice and sole.

One of its member organisations, the Scottish White Fish Producers Association, accused the European Commission of “bullyboy tactics” and warned: “Let us be clear: the science is wrong. It is tainted by political interference and the fishing industry, though its back may be to the wall, is not prepared to accept anything less than gives them sufficient quota to fish viably and economically in 2003, whilst also having regard to necessary conservation management.

“The Commission proposals are totally unacceptable and the Group is not prepared to stand by and see its economic earning base unilaterally destroyed, together with the ability of fishermen to sustain their families and their fishing communities.”

The statement went on: “The Group considers it is the right of any fisherman or group of fishermen to be able to earn a living and it is certain that no European Commission will prevent them from doing that.”

UK fisheries minister Elliot Morley, arriving in Brussels for talks which could last all week, vowed to win the best deal possible from the proposed cuts in fish catches next year and from long-term plans to lay up more than two-thirds of the fleet to give stocks time to recover.

The fishermen’s statement backed him: “In UK terms, the industry is completely behind Elliot Morley and Ross Finnie (Scottish fisheries minister) in delivering the industry from the most vicious attack on its economic future it has ever sustained.”

It added: “The fishermen are aware of what is at risk over the next few days, but those making the decisions should be in no doubt that they face the wrath of fishermen across Europe.

Earlier Mr Michael dismissed criticisms of the Bill, arguing that it was based on sound principles.

He said: “We have made it clear, there is a manifesto commitment, that we will enable Parliament to reach a conclusion on this issue.

“The more sensible the conclusion, the more people who accept that it (the Bill) is actually based on principle and therefore should be allowed to pass through, the better, because that increases the acceptance.

“But the point is at the end of the day that this can’t go on. It has gone on for years, it has taken up Parliamentary time, there are far more important things to be dealing with than hunting, and therefore we need to bring it to a conclusion,” he told the Sky News Sunday with Adam Boulton programme.

“Anybody who wants to undertake any activity with dogs has to show that firstly there is utility, it is actually necessary in order for them to deal with pests, with the health of animals, the protection of crops, and secondly then have to show that there isn’t another way in which they could get rid of the pests or control numbers which is less cruel.”

Should they fail to deliver a sensible policy for fisheries management for the short, medium and long term.”

Tonight Scottish Parliament member Richard Lochhead said Mr Finnie should lead the negotiations for the UK and not Mr Morley – because two-thirds of the fishermen affected by the outcome are Scottish.

But both the ministers are up against the same problem – the potential loss of 20,000 fishing industry jobs, with £1 billion lost to the UK economy – if fishing grounds close, as threatened by EU fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler unless tough catch reductions are endured.

Resistance, he has warned, could mean the Commission using emergency powers - as it has before – to shut down fishing grounds deemed under the worst threat from over-fishing.

The statement from the Scottish fishermen tonight said that if a moratorium was called on fishing in the North Sea, Irish Sea and off the west of Scotland, “then the Group reserve the right within the law – and that must be emphasised - to take such action individually and collectively as it considers appropriate to protect the industry from extinction.”

Tonight they hoped the fisheries ministers would delay the most Draconian measures until more scientific evidence proves – or disproves – their claims that cod recovery is under way in key waters and that they can carry on fishing.