Fishermen to face cutbacks on hake catch

THERE was bad news for Irish fishermen yesterday with cutbacks proposed in the amount of hake they can catch.

They are already facing severe cuts in their cod catch as experts warn that both species are in danger of being wiped out.

But the situation was described as a farce yesterday by fishermen's bodies that accused the European Commission of ignoring Ireland's problems. The cutbacks are intended to increase the number of adult hake in the sea by 10% a year