Brussels, 15/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - The EU Council of Ministers reached political agreement on Tuesday 15 July 2008 on a regulation adjusting sea quotas for 2008 and foreseeing a 20% rise in the total admissible catch (TAC) for cod in the Celtic Sea in 2008 that was decided upon in December 2007. The quota has been raised to 5,174 tonnes, divided as follows: France 3,725 tonnes, Ireland 797 tonnes, the UK 404 tonnes, Belgium 217 tonnes and the Netherlands 31 tonnes. In addition, the regulation decides how many shipping vessels are authorities to fish for bluefin tuna of a minimum size in the Eastern Atlantic, along with TACs: 107 tuna canners (63 Spanish and 44 French) and 107 French pelagic trawlers will be allowed to catch 1,621 tonnes of bluefin tuna (1,117 for Spain and 504 for France). The new measures incorporate the results of talks between the EU and Norway. The EU will test technical measures on towed fishing gears in order to reduce rejected by-catches to no more than 10 percent. (L.C./transl.fl)