Stocks deal sees fishermen reel in 15% pay rise

IRISH fishermen can expect a 15% increase in their income next year after a deal was reached on the amount of fish they can take out of the sea at marathon negotiations in Brussels.

Cuts in megrim, whiting and cod will be offset with increases in three commercially valuable species of prawn, monkfish and hake, according to the industry.

They were also especially pleased with two major conservation measures to protect juvenile fish off Ireland's coast a ban on gillnet fishing and the closure of Irish waters for two months next year.