Fahey rejects EU plan on deep-sea fishing

The Minister for the Marine, Mr Fahey, promised last night to reject a proposal by the European Commission to limit deepsea fishing, a move fishermen say could wreck the development of the Irish fishing industry.

As he faced into a night of negotiations in Brussels, Mr Fahey said he would also oppose a plan to make cuts in quotas for cod, hake, haddock and prawns that officials believe could cost Irish fishermen up to £40 million.

"We'll fight the draconian cuts that are being made," Mr Fahey said.

EU experts argue that cuts in quotas are necessary to preserve stocks of some white fish but Irish fishermen's representatives claim there are more effective conservation measures available than a crude cut in quotas.

The Commission is proposing a cut of more than 70 per cent in the quota for hake and a 40 per cent cut for cod.

But Mr Jason Whooley of the Irish South and West Fish Producers' Organisation warned that Irish fishermen could not survive cuts of this dimension.

"The reality is that you cannot expect any business to take a 70 per cent or a 40 per cent or even a 20 per cent cut without having consequences," he said.

The decision was due to be taken by qualified majority, so Ireland is not in a position to veto any proposal.

Mr Sean O'Donoghue of the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation said Irish fishermen accept some species of fish need protection but he claimed the Commission's "broad brush" approach was a disaster.

Mr O'Donoghue said last night's negotiations would determine the Minister's relationship with Ireland's fishermen in the future.