Falling cod stocks have prompted fears

The deal by 15 EU nations came amid concern about dwindling stocks of some fish species.

Ministers have agreed not to impose restrictions on the amount of time the West Country fleet can put to sea and have secured higher quotas for monk fish, hake, haddock and megrim.

But there will be cuts in the amount of plaice and sole that can be brought ashore.

Jim Portus of South West Fish Producers, said the deal was not as bad as it could have been, but the compromise still represented bad news.

He said: "The restrictions on sole and plaice will give the fishermen of Plymouth and Brixham problems in the years ahead.

But Paul Trebilcock, chief executive of the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation, said they had brokered the best deal that was possible.

He said: "The overall picture is relatively positive for the South West fleet, particularly the Cornish fleet.

"We have managed to hold off any days at sea restrictions so far as boats at Newlyn are concerned.

"We have also managed to secure a 30% increase in monkfish, a 30% increase in hake, a 15% increase in megrim and a 15% increase in haddock.

"The negative side is that there are some fairly serious sole cuts on the cards, it's not as bad as we were fearing."

UK Fisheries Minister and Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw, said: "It's a good deal for UK fishermen which respects the science. There's a long-term recovery plan for cod while securing large increases in some quotas like haddock and prawns, where stock levels justify it.

"We've successfully defended the number of days our boats are allowed to fish under the cod recovery plan. The proposed extension of restrictions to the Western Channel, which would have been very serious to fishermen in South West England, will not happen.

"Restrictions will be extended to the Irish Sea, but there will be higher quotas there. We also have increases in other quotas of importance to fishermen throughout the UK."