Hopes high for decommissioning of trawlers

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.

Two of the country’s MEPs, Fianna Fáil’s Seán Ó Neachtain and Brian Crowley, will meet Marine Commissioner Joe Burg in Brussels today to press for the scheme to be implemented as soon as possible.

As part of a Europe-wide effort to protect endangered species of white fish, the Commission has asked all Governments to present plans to meet quotas, including the reduction of fleets.