Irish fishermen have called on Ministers Brendan Smith and Tony Killeen to oppose EU proposals to introduce new restrictions on cod fishing in the Celtic Sea.
The proposals are being discussed at talks in Brussels today and tomorrow.
The Federation of Irish Fishermen says that all stakeholders, including the EU itself, acknowledge that cod stocks in the Celtic Sea are showing strong signs of improvement.
In addition, there has been a significant reduction in overall fishing activity as a result of substantial decommissioning schemes in both France and Ireland.
Fishermen themselves, the federation says, have led conservation measures, closing the area to fishing during the spawning season and this has also helped stocks.
The FIF says the EU proposal is counter-productive and will damage confidence in conservation measures and force fishermen who have backed conservation to go after other stocks.
Federation Chairman Gerard O'Flynn said it is extremely disappointing that the EU Commission is seeking to impose additional controls on a stock where the industry has been actively involved in introducing measures that have contributed to the recovery of the stock.
