Polish officials hit out at Baltic fishing quotas

Poland claims the agreement does not go far enough to boost the sea’s diminished cod population.

After overnight negotiations in Luxembourg, EU fisheries ministers decided that cod catches in the eastern Baltic, fished mostly by Poles, should be cut by 8 percent compared with current limits.

The European Commission, backed by Poland, wanted a cut of 28 percent.

Polish Maritime Economy Minister Marek Gróbarczyk said: "For us, the proposal which was accepted is absolutely not satisfactory. Above all it does not safeguard the future and development of species in the Baltic Sea."

Polish Radio reported that apart from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Denmark also opposed the deal reached on quotas, while Germany voiced concerns.

(pk)

Source: IAR