THE Irish Government hopes that the EU Commission will give it the go-ahead to begin decommissioning almost half of Ireland’s largest white-fleet trawlers as part of a €66 million scheme.

OVER the next six months up to 10% of Ireland’s fishing fleet will be decommissioned in one of the most drastic changes to the country’s fishing industry in modern times.

THE fishing industry has broadly welcomed the decision by the Fisheries Council in Brussels to increase the quantity of fish Irish and other EU fishermen can catch in the coming year.