Ireland to lose fleet tonnage

IRELAND is set to lose up to a fifth of its fishing fleet tonnage when new regulations are introduced by the EU next year.

Fishermen say any more reductions to the weight of the fishing fleet's vessels would be disastrous for the industry and investors would lose an estimated 100 million because of the new rules.

Emergency talks have been on going in Brussels between the European Commission, the Department of the Marine and fishermen's organisations for the past few weeks.