Younger fishermen are to be given special assistance by the EU in a €4bn plan to help regenerate coastal areas around Europe.
Fishermen under the age of 40 will be offered special assistance to buy their first boats.
The difficulties in the fishing industry, caused by falling stocks, reduced catches and more pressure from ever-increasing regulations, have led to a big fall in the number of young people in coastal areas taking up fishing.
Jobs in the building industry in particular, have proved more lucrative and increasingly crew positions on Irish boats are being filled by fishermen from abroad.
Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, John Browne, has said the plan will also provide increased aid for aquaculture, port investment and eco-tourism to help the regeneration of coastal areas.
