EU agrees on 1999 fishing quotas BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - European Union fisheries ministers agreed on new catch quotas for 1999 Friday, imposing widespread cuts to protect dwindling stocks. The final deal met most of the EU Executive Commission's demands for cuts in quotas, some up to 40%, to protect stocks in the Mediterranean and Atlantic waters around Europe. The 15 fisheries ministers unanimously accepted about 70 quota proposals put forward by the commission without changing them. About 30 proposals were also unanimously accepted after minor changes. Overall, no catch was lowered by more than 40% and most cuts were softer than that. See full story <http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557669059-c12 Chinese students seek animal safety BEIJING (AP) - A public letter circulated by college students in Shanghai calls on China to step up efforts to protect wild animals, the state-run Xinhua News Agency said Saturday. Tens of thousands of students have signed the petition, circulated in the form of a traditional Chinese scroll, Xinhua said. Wild animals in China are severely threatened, the petition said, calling for public support against illegal trapping, killing and trading of wildlife. Drafted by students at Shanghai's East China Teachers University, the letter was the latest in a petition drive that has involved students from 10 of the city's universities. See full story <http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557678290-53e>
