IRISH fishermen have come away reasonably happy with the quota of fish they can take from the seas next year following negotiations in Brussels.

The Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) has hailed their "successful defence" of key elements of the industry’s interests in the annual fishing quota negotiations concluded in Brussels last night.

IRELAND’S small island and inland fishermen are siding with the European Commission and environmentalists against the Government and the big fishing interests at the annual battle for fish quota.

ANGLERS and conservationists are mounting strong opposition to moves to change a law that has imposed a complete ban on commercial fishing for sea bass over the past 20 years.

Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has been charged with ensuring Ivory Coast deliver an “honourable” performance at this summer’s World Cup after he was last night appointed to lead the team in South Africa.

The organisation representing Irish fishermen today blasted as "scandalous" plans to downgrade Coastguard helicopter services based in Waterford from a 24-hour service to a daylight-only operation.

FISHERMEN can lose their licences permanently and countries will lose their fish quota if they persistently break the rules.

IRISH fishermen have welcomed the EU’s admission that the common fisheries policy has been a failure and will fully participate in talks to reform it.

A NUMBER of additional ports have been designated by Minister of State Tony Killeen for the landing of hake and monkfish.

The Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) is calling on Ministers Brendan Smith and Tony Killeen to immediately implement the emergency aid package for Irish fishermen, once it is agreed at the meeting of EU Fisheries Ministers in Brussels on July 15.

THE Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) has called on Ministers Brendan Smith and Tony Killeen to deliver on their undertaking to obtain emergency measures to alleviate the current crisis in the industry.

THE fishermen’s blockades of Cork and Waterford ports were called off yesterday after Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Brendan Smith agreed to meet the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) tomorrow. But the fishermen were quick to point out they have not called off their protest, just suspended that aspect of it.

ANGRY fishermen from across the country tied up their boats yesterday and took their concerns to the front gates of Leinster House over rising costs and restrictions in their industry.

THE impact of soaring fuel costs on Ireland’s fishing industry is to be vigorously pursued by the Government at EU level.

THE Irish building boom is bypassing Limerick city, latest figures show.

IRELAND made significant progress in retaining its quota for cod and herring and got an unexpected increase in prawns during the second day of negotiations on the annual fish quota in Brussels yesterday.