Irish fishermen win concessions

MAJOR concessions were won by the Irish during five days of talks in Brussels to agree a policy to replace the 20-year-old Common Fisheries Policy and save dwindling cod stocks.

However, fishermen say they will be destroyed by the latest EU plan. Conservation experts say it spells disaster for cod stocks as talks continued last night.

Marine Minister Dermot Ahern got increases in the amount of cod they can fish in the Irish Sea and the North Sea by 50% compared with the original proposals put on the table on Monday. Ireland managed to hold onto the Hague Preferences which give extra quota to Irish and British fishermen. They got increases in the herring quota in the south-east of Ireland while a proposed reduction of 80% in hake has been dropped altogether.

The World Wildlife Fund described the deal as a death sentence for cod in the North Sea, while Brendan May of the Marine Stewardship Council said the politicians refusing to follow scientists' advice were heading for a Canadian-style collapse of one or more of the stocks: "The cuts are nowhere near enough if we want to give these fisheries a chance. They need a breathing-space, even if we have to pay people not to fish. If we don't learn this lesson, next year there will be no cuts, because there will be nothing to cut".

The biggest stumbling block for most Irish fishermen tying up boats in port for up to 21 days a month has been significantly changed with the Irish and Celtic Sea excluded, but not the west and north waters which are important to the Donegal fishermen.

Mr Ahern last night said they had done the best deal possible. "Against all the odds we have succeeded in secureing the future livelihood of Irish fishermen and coastal communities," he said.

Mr Ahern and the fishermen successfully argued that the conservation plans they have been operating for the past year have been successful.

The fishermen have been operating with larger net mesh sizes and shutting down spawning areas at sensitive times.