The Irish mackerel fleet should be allowed to land an extra 10,000 tonnes next year, after the successful conclusion of EU-Norwegian negotiations on the shared fish stock yesterday. The 10,000 tonnes would represent an increase of about 10 per cent in the permitted catch.
The Minister for the Marine, Dr Woods, said the outcome of the talks represented "a good deal for Irish fishermen". The EU and Irish negotiating teams had successfully faced down efforts by Norway to increase its share of the species next year, he said.
Norway's share of the blue whiting stock in western waters had also been cut by 10,000 tonnes next year, he said. Ireland had consistently maintained that Norway, as a non-EU member, should not benefit unduly from EU fish stocks in western waters, and yesterday's agreement reversed a trend set during recent years.