Irish boats set to resume mackerel fishing under EU deal

Irish fishermen will be allowed to resume mackerel catches this week following an agreement reached in Brussels yesterday.

Irish trawlers had been banned from fishing for the species as punishment for the illegal landing of mackerel by certain Irish boats in Scotland between 2001 and 2004.

However, Minister for the Marine, Communications and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey said last night that he and his officials had managed to convince the European Commission to instead accept reductions in Ireland's mackerel quota over a six-year period.

The deal will allow Irish boats to resume mackerel fishing in the coming days.

Fishermen's groups have welcomed the move, claiming some members were facing "a major financial catastrophe" if they weren't allowed to resume catches before the end of the mackerel season.

However, they say they will still suffer losses due to the lack of fishing during the first three weeks of the year.