A fishing boat returning with its catch caught off the Scottish East coast arriving at the port of Eyemouth coast Friday 25th October 2002. Cod stocks in the waters around the UK are facing collapse unless commercial fishing stops immediately, a top-level report warned today. A report by scientists asked the European Commission for a blanket ban on cod fishing in the North Sea, the Irish Sea, and waters in the west of Scotland to allow stocks to regenerate. Fishing groups in the UK said the recommendations, which had been widely leaked, could mean the loss of 20,000 jobs, and cost the industry 1 billion in
lost earnings.PA Photo : David Cheskin