The agreement on European Union (EU) aid for the fishing industry is -- as with all fisheries policy these days -- a compromise between helping fishermen and maintaining sustainable fisheries.

Direct aid for new build fishing vessels is not included, but there is help for re-engining and coping with the impending discards ban by aid for using more selective fishing gear dealing with unwanted catches. Scrapping subsidies will be phased out as will aid for temporarily storing fish when markets are poor until they improve.

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