Fishermen in the North of England are meeting for crisis talks in North Shields, Tyneside, on Monday.

The move comes after the European Commission decided to slash fishing quotas in the North Sea and Irish Sea.

Trawlermen will hear from Bob Casson, the former President of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations, who has just returned from the negotiations in Brussels.

The meeting comes as Scottish ministers hold talks with fishermen's leaders north of the border.

'No skills'

It is reported the government will offer a compensation package of around �50m to communities badly hit by the restrictions, which will cut cod catches by 45% from February next year.

There will be larger reductions for catches of haddock and whiting in the North Sea.

Chris Jeffrey, skipper of The Girl Irene based at North Shields, said: "I am devastated. My heart has been wrenched out - we are going to be finished, the whole lot is going to be finished.

"The government and Europe are not taking into account men's livelihoods and men's families.

"You are brought up into this job, it is part of you, it is a way of life and in your blood.

"I am coming up to 40 years old, if I lose my job it will be hard to find another one - I have no skills apart from fishing."