Push to raise cod quota as one million tonnes of dead fish dumped each year

Bleak outlook: UK fishing industry 'faces catastrophe because of EU quotas'

The practice was described as "immoral" by Fisheries Minister Jonathan Shaw, who said he would push for an increase in Britain's cod quota next year.

However, environmental campaigners described any move to raise quotas as foolhardy and said North Sea cod stocks were still dangerously low.

They urged the Government to think again - and asked consumers to stop eating endangered cod.

The fishing industry warns that it faces catastrophe because of the "draconian" quotas imposed by Brussels under the Common Fisheries Policy.

A fisherman is banned from bringing fish ashore, even if it was caught accidentally, once he has reached his year's quota for a particular species.