SCOTS fishing leaders branded an EU think-tank "irrelevant" yesterday after it called for a total ban on cod catches in the North Sea.
Scientists at the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) believe fish stocks are so depleted that an all-out ban is the only answer.
In its latest report to EU ministers, it has recommended the controversial move for the third year in a row.
Scots fishermen now believe experts at the organisation have no choice but to keep repeating themselves.
Mike Park, of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, said:
"The statement is irrelevant.
When the Ices recommended a total ban on cod, they locked themselves into a position that there's no way out of until stocks reach a certain level.
"They have got to stick to their guns, even though we are seeing good signs of recovery in the cod stocks."
The annual report from the ICES helps EU ministers decide how much fish Scots vessels will be allowed to catch the following year.
In 2003, the ICES shocked the industry when it called for a total ban on cod catches.
In the end, severe quota cuts were introduced which placed a strain on the once-thriving industry.
Scots fishermen can now only go to sea for 15 days each month and are severely restricted in the amount of cod they can catch.
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