Fishing industry leaders say they are "eagerly" awaiting publication of the Government's marine strategy review, following relatively "positive" results for Ireland at this week's annual EU fish quota talks in Brussels.
Minister of State for Marine John Browne claims that next year's deal is worth an additional €20 million in landings for the national fleet, making a projected total of €250 million in fish catches by Irish vessels.
He has highlighted increases in quotas for high-value species such as hake (up 20 per cent), monkfish (up seven per cent), prawns (up 17 per cent) and haddock (up 23 per cent). This should help offset a 14 per cent cut in cod allocations, given the continued fragile state of this stock, which some scientists believe to be moving north due to climate change.
Mr Browne has also highlighted agreement on long-term measures to control the use of deepwater gill-nets, which are harmful to species such as shark and monkfish, and a "successful defence" of Ireland's special case under the Hague preferences agreement of 1976.
Mr Browne says bogus "experimental" fishing using small mesh nets in Irish waters has also been tackled under an agreement that gives Ireland greater control of scientific programmes by other member states in these waters.
However, the new Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF), representing four of the sector's main bodies, says Irish proposals to eradicate such bogus research and restrictions on harmful deep water gill nets were "watered down" at the EU fisheries council.
The FIF has described the overall outcome of the council as "positive on balance", and has praised the Irish negotiators. However, it calculates the net increase in landing value at around €14.4 million.
It says it is disappointed at cuts in days at sea for whitefish vessels in the Irish Sea, and cuts in northwest herring (down 10 per cent) and Celtic Sea herring (down 15 per cent). However, it has welcomed acceptance of Irish industry-led international conservation projects in the Irish Sea and Celtic Sea.
