EU fishing talks get under way in Clonakilty

Week-long negotiations, which have opened at the National Seafood Centre in Clonakilty, Co Cork, are focused on the annual fishing arrangements for 2015 between the European Union and Norway.

Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Britain, Spain, and Portugal are taking part in the negotiations, which are being attended by over 70 delegates.

The negotiations, hosted by Ireland, will cover a wide range of fish stocks across the north-east Atlantic, which are jointly managed by and shared between Norway and some EU states.

These will focus on setting total allowable catches for 2015 for a range of stocks, the sharing of these stocks between the parties and substantial quota swaps between the EU and Norway, as well as access arrangements to each of the respective areas for the parties.

Agriculture, Food and Marine Minister Simon Coveney said his delegation will be pursuing Ireland’s interests to the utmost during the talks. The outcome will have a direct effect on the opportunities available to Irish fishermen in 2015.

He said he hoped there will be a successful outcome on the exchange of fishing quotas and access arrangements, which will enable the finalisation of quotas for other stocks such as blue whiting off the north-west of Ireland and the herring in Norwegian waters.

These are of major importance to Ireland’s west coast pelagic fishing fleet and fish processing plants in Donegal, he said.