Firing hundreds of distress flares and sounding their horns, fishermen from throughout the East Coast converged on the River Tyne today to protest against proposals for new European quotas they claim threaten their jobs.

A flotilla of up to 40 boats carrying angry and disheartened fishermen gathered at the mouth of the river at North Shields, before sailing in biting easterly winds upstream to the Millennium Bridge which spans Newcastle and Gateshead's quaysides. They then returned to North Shields where a European Union and Spanish flag were symbolically set on fire.

The crews were campaigning ahead of a European Commission meeting next week which will discuss measures to protect stocks, which could see an 80 per cent cut in cod quotas.

"Not lack of fish, lack of common sense", "Our Christmas Wish Let Us Fish" and "Deny Every Fisherman the Right to Earn a Proper Living", some banners read.

Organisers had expected more vessels from North Sea ports, but poor weather kept them in port. Undeterred dozens arrived by bus to show their support.

Chris Leadley of Whitby, who fishes from North Shields and has just invested half a million pounds in his fishing boat Kristanjo, said: "What they are proposing would my boat virtually worthless.

"No one wants a fishing boat that cannot fish. It would a be question of walking into the bank and handing over the keys."

He added: "Restrictions have to come _ there is no doubt about it, as we want to ensure the future of our industry.

"But for the last ten years we have faced various restrictions, including cuts in quotas and smaller mesh in or nets. They have just not given the restrictions the chance to have an effect on the stocks."

Dennis Clark, regional organiser for the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations, who is based at North Shields, said members did not disagree with conservation measures but there were far fewer boats fishing these days and stocks were recovering.

He said: "We would like a period of five or six months before a decision is taken, so scientists can make a more accurate assessment of the stocks. If we get the policies right, there is a future for fishing."

His son Peter Clark, 24, who is sixth generation fisherman said apart from bringing to a sad end a long family tradition, the proposed restrictions would kill off the industry.

William Armstrong who fishes from Amble in boat ironically named the Provider: "We want to make a living that is all we want. At the moment we are having a job just trying to make ends meet."