WEYMOUTH and Portland fishermen are backing conservation and quota curbs in the battle to restore severely dwindling fish stocks.

But they warn that this action will be no good unless other countries are forced to toe the line as well.

They spoke out after Fisheries Minister Elliot Morley urged the European Commission to balance conservation with the needs of Britain's beleaguered trawlermen at the start of talks in Brussels to consider another round of swingeing cuts in fish catches as Europe faces the total collapse of cod supplies.

He said: "A broad package of measures is needed to save dwindling cod stocks. We need to ensure we balance environmental considerations with the concerns of the industry. The industry also needs to be fully involved in the decision-making process."

Weymouth and Portland Fishermen's Association chairman, Dave Pitman, said: "The quota system has never been fair to UK fishermen. The French get most of it.

"Quotas have got to be sorted out on a fairer basis and measures brought in to make sure fishermen from other countries abide by the rules the same as UK fishermen do.

"We must also do something about conservation, but it should be measures followed by all countries, not just the UK."

The latest round of belt-tightening for Britain's beleaguered trawlermen follows years of EU-imposed catch restrictions which have failed to deliver the promised revival of dwindling stocks of key commercial fish species.

Fishing fleets which have been told repeatedly that harsh national catch quotas and limits on days at sea are crucial for long-term conservation and the industry's survival have simply seen their incomes slashed.

Now the Brussels Commission is planning the most drastic belt-tightening measure yet.

Among ideas put to fisheries ministers for consideration was a year-long total ban on all cod fishing in EU waters.

But no formal proposals will be tabled until next month when the annual fish quota haggling gets under way in earnest.

The most likely solution is another round of across-the-board cuts hitting all the key commercial fish species, including cod and haddock.