Gallagher: Fishing quota changes will boost income

European Union fishing fleets changes will boost incomes of Irish fishermen by 15% next year, Marine Minister Pat ’The Cope’ Gallagher said today.

Ministers from the 25 EU member states agreed on 15% cuts in cod and haddock in the Irish Sea and for whiting in the Celtic Sea.

However there will be increases in the herring catch in the north, south, and north-west coasts and a 15% increase in the prawn quota.

There is also a 5% increase for monkfish.

Mr Gallagher insisted today that his negotiating team had secured a good deal for Irish fishermen and predicted a 15% boost in incomes in 2006.

“I went into these negotiations determined to secure a fair deal for the Irish fishing industry, while ensuring that our stocks which are depleted are protected and given time to recover,” he said.

“I believe that the outcome of these talks has achieved this aim.

“Far from suffering 15% cuts across our whitefish quotas, we have received increases in several key species and in fact I expect that the value of the quotas achieved at this council will deliver an increased income of approximately 15% to Irish fishermen next year.”

Ministers from the 25 EU member states finally broke up talks at 3am after concluding the deal.

Mr Gallagher also praised the input at the Brussels talks from the Irish fishing industry via the newly established regional advisory councils.

“For the first time the industry has had the opportunity to lend its expertise and first-hand knowledge to the decisions that we made.

“I believe that this input has improved the quality of our decisions and in particular the decision to accept the industry’s recommended closures of areas in the Irish Sea and in the Celtic Sea to protect cod stocks is a concrete example of a stronger working relationship,”

The minister also secured a January 2006 ban on deep sea gill nets, which had been targeting monkfish and deepwater sharks off the Irish west coast.

This Deepnet Report compiled by an Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the Marine Institute found that this practice resulted in the loss of a large number of nets which continue trapping fish even when abandoned.

In less than 10 years stocks of deepwater sharks have fallen to one fifth of their original levels, the report said.

Vessels can use approximately 5000-8000 nets each, with a total length of between 250-400 kilometres of net per vessel.

Mr Gallagher said: “I witnessed first hand the anger among Irish fishermen at the devastation and destruction that these nets are causing.

“It is hard to convince hard working fishermen of the value of conservation and building a sustainable fishery when so many fish are being destroyed in a senseless and wasteful manner,” said the minister.

“I gave a commitment to the Irish fishing industry that I would make this issue a top priority at this council and I am delighted that I have succeeded in convincing my colleagues of the importance of taking action to stop the damage being caused by these nets.”

“The prohibition of these nets with effect from the beginning of next year is a massive step forward for conservation efforts and I know that Irish fishermen will greatly welcome this decision.

“I welcome this brave decision by the Council which I’m sure will help turn the tide for these stocks and help to create a more sustainable future for our industry,” he added.