FRANCE: French fishermen blockaded major ports yesterday to protest against proposed hefty cuts in EU fishing quotas they say threaten an already stricken industry.
Trawlers blocked the Channel ports of Calais, Le Havre, Dunkirk, Boulogne and Cherbourg for several hours, one irate British road haulier complaining the action would cost British industry over £1 million (€1.42 million).
EU fisheries ministers will next Wednesday tackle the vexed question of quotas for 2004 as well as a cod stocks recovery programme.
Fishermen fear the changes could slash by up to 40 per cent the number of days they are allowed to spend at sea in each three-month period, cuts which they say could ruin them.
"It's inhuman, it's absolutely unacceptable. How can one expect a business these days to pay its taxes and its salaries with only 20, 30 or 40 days at sea allowed per quarter," said Hugues Autret, head of a large fishermen's union.
Cod catches in the North Sea, one of Europe's largest cod fishing grounds, were slashed by 45 per cent last year, and the European Commission wants the same low quota for 2004.