Warning over depleted stocks of Scottish cod and Irish whiting

Stocks of cod off the west of Scotland and whiting in the Irish Sea are so depleted there are barely enough to give an accurate picture of remaining supplies, the European Commission warned.

Illegal overfishing in breach of annual EU quotas and poor industry reporting of supplies is still a problem despite years of conservation efforts, a new report says.

It calls for tougher methods of setting quota limits and the number of days fishing boats can put to sea as part of a drive to return EU waters to full sustainable fishing by 2015.

Fishermen have been told for years they must endure short-term sacrifices to allow main fish stocks to recover and secure the fishing industry's long-term future.

The report confirms that the measures are working in some areas, with 11 stocks meeting "sustainable" levels compared with only two - North Sea herring and haddock - in 2002.

Among those in good recovery are West of Scotland and Irish Sea herring, Irish Sea plaice and North Sea prawns.

But between 60 per cent and 70 per cent of stocks remain outside safe limits for sustainable fishing. A year ago the figure was put at 80 per cent.

The report launches a consultation with EU governments and representatives of regional fishing sectors ahead of updated scientific advice in the summer on the state of EU stocks.

That will form the basis of Commission proposals in October on next year's catch limits and restrictions on days at sea for the fleet.

EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki said: "I want to be clear that the quota levels set must respect all the EU commitments to sustainability."

The final haggling to carve up EU fishing waters between the national fleets will take place in December - with fisheries ministers caught between the scientific recommendations for drastic cuts, and the need to maintain livelihoods for hard-pressed fishing fleets.

Traditionally governments vote for quotas above the recommended science, prolonging the agony of depleted stocks by exceeding annual catch quotas and delaying the time when fish are plentiful once more.

But the report says things are improving: Last year the total allowable catch in EU waters was set by ministers at 34 per cent above the scientific recommendation, compared with about 50 per cent above the recommendations in the past.