Fishing groups back new EU quota deal for Ireland

Fishing groups have welcomed the EU’s new deal for Ireland on next year’s quotas but said any short-term success at the negotiating table simply masks the need for “bigger battles” ahead.

Under the deal announced early yesterday, Irish fishermen secured 233,500 tonnes of quotas worth €280m for next year.

The deal, announced by Marine Minister Michael Creed following days of negotiations in Brussels, represents an increase of 17,390 tonnes compared with the quota allocated for 2016.