Fischler says fish deal is fair

The EU Agriculture Commissioner, Mr Franz Fischler, has hailed as balanced and necessary yesterday's agreement to cut fishing quotas in the North Sea.

Speaking in Brussels after 12 hours of talks produced a deal that fell short of the Commission's proposals, Mr Fischler insisted the measures were in the long-term interest of Europe's fishing industry. "If we want a fishing industry, we must also have fish," he said.

The Spanish government claimed its Agriculture Minister, Mr Miguel Arias Canete, was responsible for reducing the planned cut in the total allowable catch (TAC) for hake from 74 per cent to 47 per cent.

Mr Canete had proposed the need - due to serious economic and social consequences for the Spanish fleet - to modify the reduction in allowable catches, while monitoring the recovery of critically low fish stocks, it said.

Portugal increased its quota for cod, the country's national dish. Portuguese Agriculture Minister Mr Luis Capoulas Santos claimed stocks were not endangered in the waters where the Portuguese fleet fished. "This result guarantees Portuguese fisheries conditions in which to continue," he said.

When the final compromise was put to a vote yesterday, Greece was the only country to vote against it, with Italy abstaining.