EU Fisheries Ministers began their annual two-day meeting in Brussels this morning at which quotas will be set for catches of major fish species for next year.
Irish fishermen's leaders are also in Brussels and are insisting that attempts by the European Commission to impose further cuts in catches must be stopped.
The Irish negotiations are being led by the Minister for State at the Department of Agriculture and Marine, John Browne.
Fishermen say the Irish negotiating team must block cuts which the European Commission wants to impose in key pelagic fisheries, such as Celtic Sea and Northwest Herring and must get a better deal in the number of days on which boats will be allowed to fish.
The Chairman of the Federation of Irish Fishermen said there was also concern that other nations might try to change the operation of what are called the 'Hague Preferences', a longstanding mechanism which adjusts quota levels for some stocks in Ireland's favour in the annual shareout.
'These arrangements are an integral part of our system of quotas and cannot be tampered with in any circumstances,' said Lorcán Ó Cinnéide from Brussels where fishing organisation leaders have gathered to liaise with the Irish delegation at the talks.
