Artisan fishermen demand 'fairer EU quotas'

EU fisheries ministers met in Brussels on Tuesday with the aim of agreeing on fishing quotas for next year. The European Commission wants to slash the numbers of certain fish caught each year, arguing it will make the industry more sustainable. Small fishing businesses have joined forces with environmental campaigners to demand what they call ‘fairer quotas’. Fishermen operating smaller boats argue larger firms get too much access to stocks and want a greater share for themselves. They demonstrated outside the EU Council in the Belgian capital. It’s an unusual alliance of two interest groups that previously clashed with each other on a regular basis. French actress Melanie Laurent, also a Greenpeace activist, said: “They should listen more to scientists, who say if we go on as we are there’ll be no fish left in the sea after 35 years.” The negotiations between Europe’s fishing ministers are expected to last three days.