EU Ministers Strike Deal On 2009 Fishing Quotas

European Union ministers reached a deal on Friday to cut many of next year's fish catches for overexploited mainstays such as cod and hake, aiming to ward off stock collapse but ensure a livelihood for fishermen.

The ministers also agreed stricter rules on fishing tackle used by cod trawlers, in an attempt to stop overfished species from being thrown back in the sea and left to die when caught by accident along with other species, officials said.

Cod, so often a major hurdle for the annual quota-setting talks, was not such a problem this year partly thanks to a recent deal with non-EU member Norway on quotas for cod and other species such as haddock and plaice in the North Sea.