Broad welcome for fish quota deal

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.

After a final all-night negotiating session, Marine Minister Dermot Ahern said just 11% of Ireland’s fleet will be adversely affected by the restrictions on the number of days vessels can spend at sea.

However, the industry describes as misguided the European Commission’s insistence on tying up boats as the best way to save fish stocks such as cod.