Luxembourg, 25/04/2006 (Agence Europe) - EU fisheries ministers gave a very mixed welcome to the proposal establishing a management plan for stocks of sole and plaice in the North Sea. The measures, which are intended to reduce the mortality rate per fish species caught by 10% each year (by reducing the number of days fishing and by stabilising catches) until fish stocks have recovered, were considered too harsh by the main countries concerned, namely the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark (EUROPE 9106 and 9177). These countries requested that the reduction of fishing activity be more gradual. They challenged the control measures proposed, suggesting that quantities offloaded should be weighed before being sold, as soon as a fishing vessel catches over 500 kg of plaice or over 300 kg of sole. The Commission suggests an 8% margin of error on these 500 and 300 kg, that Denmark and the Netherlands wish to increase to 10%. Only Sweden clearly supports the proposal, while Germany points out that it supports most of the elements put forward.