European fisheries ministers have agreed that the practice of discarding dead fish caught by accident under the EU quota system should be banned.
Ministers have agreed to end the disposal of mackerel and herring by 2014. A phased ban on discard of cod, haddock and sole would be introduced by 2018.
Environmental campaigners have called the timelines vague.
The BBC reports the deal is a compromise and subject to more talks. Any final settlement will have to be passed by the European Parliament and the commission.
