Fishing vessels are to be given long term quota shares guaranteed for periods of up to 15 years under radical proposals to reform the European Union Common Fisheries Policy.
The move, already adopted by countries like Iceland, was hinted at earlier this year, but they now appear to be confirmed in a European Commission draft, a copy of which was obtained by the BBC last night.
Environmental groups are already describing it as a virtual privatisation of the fishing grounds and some aspects are almost certain to attract criticism from fishing interests as well.
The full details will be published in July, but what is certain is that the practice of discards, much hated by fishermen and much criticised by environmentalists, will be outlawed.
Read the complete story from Fish Update.