Ireland bottom of table for fishing overcapacity

Ireland came last in a report on what EU countries are doing to match their fishing fleet to the amount of fish that can be safely taken out of the sea.

With many of the species that fishing communities depend on for a livelihood in danger of extinction, too many fishing boats is one of the chief obstacles to achieving a balance.

Europe’s fishing fleet can take two to three times the quantity of fish that is considered safe, contributing to the vicious circle of falling profits and over- fishing of endangered species.