EU ministers in fisheries deal

European Union ministers have reached a deal to reduce many of next year's fish quotas for overexploited species, while cautiously increasing others to ensure the livelihood of fishermen.

After almost 36 hours of negotiations Minister of State for Fisheries Tony Killeen said the outcome was positive compared to the position facing Irish fishermen at the outset of the talks.

The deal on mackerel is provisional until an agreement is reached with Norway as negotiations with the country, with which the EU shares fishing stocks in the North Sea, collapsed last week over the management of stocks.

Mr Killeen said that without an EU/ Norway agreement there was “a real danger” that the Irish mackerel fleet would be severely limited in terms of the amount of the mackerel quota it would be permitted to fish.

A provisional quota of 65 per cent of the 2009 mackerel quota has been agreed for next year ahead of renewed talks with Norway.

The Minister said he secured assurances from the Council that any new agreement will “be fairer in the benefits and costs” it delivered for all member states. Historically Ireland has contributed more in the transfer of fishing quotas to Norway than it gained from access to fish stock in Norwegian waters.

Total allowable catches (TAC) for main species such as haddock, sole and cod will be cut by between 20 to 25 per cent in 2010 from this year's volumes, and increased the number of hake catches by 15 per cent as stock concerns ease.

In the case of prawns the TAC cut of 50 per cent recommended by International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has been reduced to 9 per cent.

Mr Killeen said he is satisfied this cut delivers both “both necessary conservation measures and a realistic quota for the prawn stocks where the science shows that the stock is healthy."

He also paid tribute to the work of Irish fishermen in tandem with the marine Institute scientists that lead to the recovery of the Celtic Sea herring stock.

"Fishermen had the courage to take the very difficult decisions required to rebuild the stock and I am delighted such positive results with a TAC increase of 71 per cent. This is a fine example of how working together and taking strong action can pay dividends," he said.

Although many species remained overfished, a small but increasing number of stocks were now being fished at maximum sustainable yield levels, said Mr Borg, adding that overfishing was declining and could be phased out by 2015.

The EU maintained a total ban on fishing for porbeagle, a predatory shark, which it considers as critically endangered in the North Atlantic.