Factories on the line as fish talks begin

THE future of four Irish fish-processing factories was on the line last night after talks began yesterday in Brussels on the setting of new fish quotas for EU countries.

About 200 people are employed in the factories in Galway, Dingle, Baltimore and Wexford processing herring, but the European Commission want to reduce catches by 35% next year.

Jason Whooley of the Irish Fishermen’s Federation said Ireland is particularly vulnerable when it comes to cuts in Celtic sea herring as it gets about 85% of the total quota for the year.