EU fisheries ministers last night agreed a €600 million emergency package for the beleaguered Irish fisheries industry.

THE Government plans to decommission a third of the whitefish fleet sector in Ireland, at a cost of about €66 million, according to an application lodged with the European Commission.

Irish fishermen say they hope the European Commission will quickly approve the Government's plans for reforming the Irish fishing industry.

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.