European countries set common fisheries policy

European Community ministers gave final approval to a common fisheries policy , bringing to an end seven years of tough negotiations on the sharing of catches in the waters of member nations, a Council of Ministers spokesman said.

The signing ceremony came three hours after Community ministers and officials had assembled Tuesday for an intensive effort to resolve conflicting claims about the meaning of key clauses in the draft agreement. The policy is intended to regulate the market for the Community's 140,000 fishermen by setting overall limits and national quotas for the main fish species, helping to rebuild Community fleets, and offering a price-support mechanism to the industry.