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Fishermen end Dutch blockade

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Cod stocks in the North Sea are at an all-time low  

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands -- Dutch fishermen angered by a ban on cod fishing have ended their blockade of the world's biggest port.

More than 100 vessels had blocked the entrances to Rotterdam and Amsterdam harbours in protest at the decision by the European Union and Norway to impose a 10-week ban on cod fishing in a large area of the North Sea to protect falling stocks of the fish.

The protesters ended their action at both ports late on Thursday after the Dutch Government promised to take steps to reopen part of the North Sea.

The government also agreed to immediate payment of 12 million guilders ($5 million) promised to the fishermen last year to offset the high price of diesel fuel.

Some 40-50 vessels carrying the protesters had been stationed at the entrance to the North Sea canal that leads to Amsterdam harbour. A similar number had taken up position at the New Waterway, the entrance to Rotterdam port.

Other smaller Dutch harbours were also blockaded.

Gerrit Hiemstra of the Dutch Fishermen's Union said the protest erupted unexpectedly after a meeting on Wednesday between fishermen and the Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry.

The protesters claimed Belgian fishermen were getting money to make up for lost income, but the Dutch Government had refused similar measures.

About a fifth of the North Sea is off-limits for fishing during the cod's spawning period. Scientists say years of over fishing have brought the cod perilously close to extinction.

Reuters contributed to this report.



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