Carol MacDonald, of the Cod Crusaders, a Fraserburgh-based group fighting to save the Scottish fishing industry from cod catch bans, branded the commission's findings as "codswallop".

BBC: NEWS | UK | Scotland | Fishing plan 'will kill industry'

"These measures are needed to avoid extinction of cod in the North Sea, " said a commission spokesman.

BBC: Emergency ban to save cod

It will be considered in the coming weeks by the European Commission, which is likely to accept the recommendations to save the cod from extinction.

BBC: Extinction threat to cod