EU fisheries ministers met on 19 and 20 December 2006 to agree on the 2007 fishing quotas for European fleets.

Before the meeting, the Union’s scientific advisers sought a total ban on cod fishing in European waters. Ministers agreed to a 20 percent cut in waters to the west of the UK, 14 percent in the North Sea and 15 percent elsewhere. The number of days allowed for cod fishing was reduced between seven and ten percent. For other fisheries, the ministers adopted the following quotas: increases in quotas for prawns, haddock, mackerel and monkfish; a 12 percent increase in Bay of Biscay sole; a 20 percent increase in northern hake; a limited lifting of a ban on anchovy fishing; a 12 percent decrease in plaice and a 10 percent decrease in tuna fishing in the Mediterranean. Scientists argued their surveys were ignored and environmental NGOs have criticized the EU for ignoring scientists’ warnings and said the protection measures are too weak.

Link to further information
BBC press release, 21 December 2006