I attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on 21 and 22 December 2004 together with Margaret Beckett, Ben Bradshaw and Ian Pearson.On fisheries, the Council agreed the total allowable catches(TACs) and quotas for 2005.Significant TAC increases in four of Scotland’s most valuable fisheries were agreed: Northern Monkfish (47% initially); North Sea Herring (16%); North Sea Nephrops (12%) West of Scotland Nephrops (12%) with further significant TAC increases in important secondary fisheries: North Sea Whiting, Blue Whiting and West of Scotland Haddock (17%) also agreed.