Significant increases in the quotas for monkfish and hake have been welcomed by St Ives MP Andrew George.The announcement about the increases was made following the annual fisheries ministers' negotiations in Brussels.

Mr George said Cornish fishermen should benefit from the changes as the two fish are important catches for Newlyn-based fishermen.

"The negotiations resulted in an unhelpful 15% cut in the quota for cod but I welcome the fact that Britain's fisheries minister, Ben Bradshaw MP, has avoided an extension of constraints on 'days at sea'," said Mr George.

"There have been three connected messages: fishermen must work with rather than against scientists; fishermen must be given more responsibility to negotiate with scientists and others the appropriate management systems for their fishery; and future management regimes should place a greater emphasis on area and seasonal closures, rather than upon quotas and days at sea restrictions.

"One of the biggest benefits which both fishermen and I have argued for for many years has been that secured through the spring time closure of what is known as the Trevose grounds off the North Cornish coast.

"However, I am not seeking to diminish the significance of the 15% cut in cod quota.

"It is caught as a by-catch in a mixed fishery and will have a much wider impact than may appear at first sight.

"Other than that, I think that fishermen should be congratulated for their efforts, for working with scientists and for making significant efforts by contributing to the effective management regimes for fishing around the Cornish coast, the Celtic Sea and the Western Approaches."

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