The breakthrough on fish discards is one of the most significant at an EU Fisheries Council in a decade, writes Minister Simon Coveney

Plans to reform Europe's fishing industry would not stop the destruction of fish stocks for at least another decade, campaigners claimed today.

A REVOLUTION in the way Europe manages its fishing industry has been unveiled in Brussels, with the warning that the choice is between a near wipe-out of fish stocks or an increase of 70% with a tripling of profits over the next decade.

The value of Europe’s struggling fishing industry will almost double in a decade to €2.95bn under sweeping reform plans unveiled.

UNTENABLE mackerel fishing by Iceland and the Faroe Islands must be resisted, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney told European Maritime Affairs Commissioner Maria Damanaki at a special meeting in Luxembourg.

EUROPEAN fishermen need to be invited into a meaningful debate on enhanced environmental strategies rather than being hit with a populist blanket ban on discards, according to the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF).

EUROPEAN fishermen have been accused of “mincing” thousands of undersized mackerel for their valuable omega oils and dumping the discarded catches in Irish waters.