NI Fisheries Minister Michelle O’Neill has expressed her disappointment with proposed European Commission fish quotas for two of our main fish stocks.
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Prawn trawlers tied up in Ardglass. The DARD Fisheries Minister Michelle O’Neill is concerned at the EU proposals to cut haddock and prawn quotas.[/caption]
Minister O’Neill said: “On Thursday 26 November, the European Commission finally made proposals for fish stocks that are subject to the fish landing obligation in 2016. These included proposals for the prawn stock around Ireland and Irish Sea haddock.
“Whist I appreciate the complexity of trying to estimate additional quota to account for extra fish that will have to be landed next year under the landing obligation, I am of the view that the Commission has got the basic quotas wrong for both these stocks.
“The prawn proposal represents a 10% reduction, which is in excess of the 2% reduction suggested by the scientific advice. As this figure also includes an uplift for additional fish that will have to be landed next year, the actual reduction is far greater, at around 17%.
“The Irish Sea haddock proposal appears to have completely ignored positive trends that show that the stock is at its highest level since the early 1990s. This suggests the quota should be increased, yet the proposal represents a reduction of at least 52%.
“Clearly this December’s Fisheries Council is going to be very difficult and highly complicated given that the proposals for many stocks have been announced a month later than usual, and Member States will want to fully ascertain how discard quota uplifts have been calculated. I will fight hard to secure sensible and sustainable fish quotas to enable our fishermen to maintain viable fishing operations.”
The Brussel’s Fisheries summit later this month last’s for two days and will see some significant horsetrading between EU Ministers. Given that there is a major change to the industry regarding the discarding of fish at sea, any cuts to the white fish and prawn quotas will be of major concern to the local fishermen in Portavogie, Ardglass and Kilkeel.
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