BRUSSELS -- EU fisheries ministers hope to halt a chronic decline in cod stocks after years of over-exploitation by deciding next month on an emergency plan involving possible drastic cuts in catches, diplomats said on Thursday.

Scientists say cod numbers in northern waters stand at their lowest recorded levels and have recommended an outright ban as the only way to avoid collapse of whitefish stocks. Stocks of hake and haddock are also very low, Reuters reported.

Instead, the executive European Commission says it wants to protect communities dependent on fishing for their livelihoods and has proposed measures that could possibly involve cuts as high as 80 percent for cod and haddock, and up to 75 percent for whiting in European Union fishing areas, Reuters reported.

These cuts would translate into substantial reductions in allowable catches for member states until scientists indicate that a minimum level of mature fish had been reached. Numbers of vessel days spent at sea would also be drastically reduced.

"The serious situation concerning the cod stock in the North Sea requires a (EU fisheries) council decision in December," said a statement from the Danish EU presidency.

"It is very important that we find a balanced solution, which both secures the replenishment of the stocks and considers the situation of the fishing industry," the statement said.

*** Many Brand Proposals Unacceptable **** EU fisheries ministers, meeting this week in Brussels, have given their initial reaction to the action plan, with many already saying the probable slashing of quotas was unacceptable.

France's farm and fisheries minister Herve Gaymard said the commission's plan for such a high reduction in fishing activity was impossible and unworkable.

"The last proposals that have been presented to us are totally unrealistic. How could we accept reductions of 80 percent in the activity of entire fleets?" he asked at a round-table session of the EU's 15 fisheries ministers.

"The commission is putting everyone in the same basket and presenting brutal and unacceptable proposals to shock public opinion, and I'm not sure this is the best way to move forward," he told France's Radio Europe 1 earlier.

Many ministers expect a marathon negotiating session at their next meeting in Brussels, scheduled for mid-December, when the annual haggling over fishing quotas and reform of the bloc's common fisheries policy (CFP) will also be on the agenda.

The commission already proposes a radical CFP reform by capping traditionally high quotas, which are usually set at the end of each year by species and area.

British Fisheries Minister Elliot Morley, speaking to reporters, said Britain had already reduced its fishing activity over the last year and expected other EU states to cut back accordingly to avert a regional cod crisis.

"There is recognition that there are severe problems in the North Sea. If you are going to have effective recovery, then the measures are going to hurt," he said.

"We have reduced effort quite considerably in the last year -- we would expect other fishing fleets to take similar measures to deal with what is an EU-wide situation," he said.