(BRUSSELS) - The European Commission on Wednesday proposed a 25-percent cut in cod fishing quotas for most of the EU's waters, warning that with cod and other fish "most stocks remain overfished."

In its proposals for 2008 fisheries, the EU executive arm proposed to cut the overall quotas for most species, including a 15-percent cut of North Sea sole, a 41-percent cut in North Sea herring and a continued closure of all anchovy fishing in the Bay of Biscay.

The cod cuts were offset by an increase in the quota for North Sea cod by 11 percent, a measure already agreed with Norway.

European Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg said that while the overall situation remains "broadly stable ... most stocks remain overfished."

"We must make further efforts if we are to achieve progress towards sustainable fisheries," he said in a statement.

"If we do not the result will be the rapid decline of overfished stocks, and lasting damage to the fleets that depend on them."

To enter into force in January 2008, the Commission's proposals must be adopted by the fisheries ministers of the 27 EU member states when they meet on December 17-19.

On Tuesday the fisheries ministers, meeting in Brussels, agreed to tighten up the rules protecting threatened tuna stocks, obliging member states to present detailed fishing plans before the season starts.

The European Commission proposals are based on scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration and Economic Committee on Fisheries.

In general, the Commission aims to keep its proposals for quota changes to within 15 percent up or down "so as to provide a degree of stability to stakeholders."

Some of those stakeholders, around 100 Polish fishermen, protested outside the EU fisheries ministers meeting in Brussels on Tuesday chanting "we want to work, not starve."

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