EU argue for greater access to Irish fish
Thursday, 18 December 2008 19:43Irish fishermen have asked Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Brendan Smith to resist attempts by the major European fishing nations to increase the amount of fish they can take out of Irish waters.
Spain, Portugal and France are expected to attempt to get more access to fish stocks in Irish waters at the annual fish catch quota talks that began in Brussels today.
The Irish fishing industry suffers because it already has only a small share of fishing rights in its own water, because of the deal agreed when Ireland joined the EU.
To counteract that to some degree the Hague Preferences were devised in 1976, giving Irish fishermen additional quotas to key stocks.
However, this agreement has to be renewed every year and as fish stocks become tighter, the bigger EU fishing nations want to remove any preferential Irish rights.
Irish fishermen had hoped that the reduction in the number of boats in the fleet would ensure the future of those remaining, but now fear that the bigger nations will take advantage, further affecting the Irish fleet.
The Federation of Irish Fishermen says Irish rights must be protected.
Scientists also want to stop fishing for cod, whiting and haddock off the north and west, which would have major effects on ports like Greencastle and Killybegs.
