Irish fishermen face further cuts in cod quotas after the European Commission today called for more hefty cuts in annual catches. However, the Commission again rejected an outright fishing ban which scientists say would save the species from extinction after chronic overfishing.
In October, scientists said barring fishermen from catching cod in north European waters was the only way to stop the species disappearing.
But the EU executive, repeating the move it made last year in the face of the same scientific advice, ruled out closing down fisheries in the North Sea, Irish Sea and west of Scotland for fear of destroying coastal communities dependent on fishing.
Cod catches in the North Sea, one of Europe's largest cod fishing grounds, were slashed by 45 per cent last year and the Commission wants the same low quota for 2004.
For waters off the west of Scotland, a smaller cod area, it has proposed a quota reduction of 53 per cent. For sole, plaice and whiting, it wants catch cuts of up to 50 per cent in waters around Britain and Ireland.
"The results of unsatisfactory enforcement of conservation and recovery measures are plain for all to see," EU Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler said in a statement.
European Union fisheries ministers will haggle over fish quotas in their traditional marathon debate starting on December 17th. They will also debate a long-term recovery plan for cod.
A temporary scheme has been in effect since February where, in addition to fish quota cuts, the number of days a trawler can spend at sea are limited to stop overfishing.
Ireland, along with Denmark and Britain, is one of the countries that is most affected by the reduction in cod catches.