BRUSSELS - The European Union has reached a deal to regulate next year's permitted fishing catches, hoping to stimulate the recovery of species like cod whose numbers have been depleted.
After hours of haggling into the night, ministers accepted a series of concessions offered by the European Commission,the EU's executive arm, that were designed to preserve stocks of threatened fish while still allowing fishermen a livelihood.
One of the most contentious issues was how much to cut the permitted number of days that vessels may spend at sea to catch cod. Scientists have warned Europe's fishermen should stop catching North Sea cod if the species is to survive.
The Commission has usually rejected this kind of advice to avoid wrecking communities that depend economically on fishing. Now its focus is on multi-annual management plans whereby a limited amount of fishing, strictly controlled, is allowed.
As a sop to countries fishing for various species like Norway lobster - a shellfish like a cross between a large prawn and small lobster - round the English Channel, extra days at sea will be granted if vessels can prove only minimal amounts of cod are caught by accident alongside the main catch.
One of the main sticking points was anchovy fishing in the Bay of Biscay, an issue that had to be resolved between France and Spain.
Lying off the Atlantic coastlines of France and Spain, the bay is the key trawling ground for anchovy, a short-lived species.
Anchovy fishing was banned there from July 2005 to the end of February 2006, then from July 2006 to the end of this year.
