EU fisheries talks remained deadlocked last night after a group of countries, including Ireland, rejected the Commission's latest compromise proposal to conserve stocks.
The Commission has drawn back from its initial demand that quotas for cod should be cut by almost 80 per cent.The Fisheries Commissioner, Mr Franz Fischler, said yesterday that he would accept a 65 per cent cut in quotas if fisheries ministers agreed to limit the number of days fishing vessels could go to sea.
The proposal would mean that fishing for cod off the coast of Donegal would be limited to seven days a month for the first six months of next year. Cod fishing off the rest of Ireland's coast would be limited to 15 days a month.
The Minister for the Marine, Mr Ahern, rejected the proposal as unacceptable, and a spokesman at his department said that there was no sign of a breakthrough.
"The situation is very bleak. There appears to be very little give at present and the Commission is hanging very tough in relation to its proposals. There is very little ground for optimism," the spokesman said.
Scientists have called for a total ban on cod fishing, arguing that stocks are critically low. However Irish fishermen say their experience contradicts the scientists' view, and say that severe quota cuts would cost tens of thousands of jobs and leave boats idle for much of the year.
Spain, France, Britain and Ireland are among the member-states opposing the Commission's plans. However Germany's Fisheries Minister, Ms Renate Kuenast, said yesterday it was essential that action be taken to conserve stocks.
"Cod is in a desperate situation. Even if there were restrictions on fishing, it would be unclear when cod could recover. It's important that the quotas follow scientific evidence and do not end up as political quotas. We support a moratorium but know that it would be very difficult to implement."
