Coveney: Dumping of over-quota fish to end

The controversial practice of dumping prized fish overboard because of EU quotas will be phased out from 2015, the Marine Minister has confirmed.

Simon Coveney revealed the start date after a trawler owner gave away thousands of euro worth of monkfish on Kilmore Quay in Co Wexford to highlight what he said was the crazy EU quota system.

It is estimated that more than 1m tonnes of fish are thrown away by fishermen in EU waters every year. Some 38% of commercial Irish whitefish catches have to be thrown overboard because of the EU quota.