The government has agreed to the biggest cuts in North Sea cod fishing quotas ever seen in an attempt by EU ministers to save cod from extinction. Next year's quotas will be 40 per cent less than the current year. The UK government was at odds, however, with reduced quotas on hake, haddock, whiting and prawns. UK fisheries minister, Elliot Morley, won cutbacks in hake quotas from 75 per cent to 41 per cent.