Gildernew in joint discussion on key fisheries priorities

Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA has met with southern Fisheries Minister Tony Killeen TD to discuss their approach to the important fisheries negotiations, at the forthcoming Council of Ministers meetings.

These meetings during November and December will set the fishing opportunities for 2010 and adopt new technical conservation regulations.

Speaking afterwards, Minister Gildernew said: "It is important that we work together in measures affecting fish stocks in the Irish Sea and that we agree a common approach, as far as possible, to what will be very difficult negotiations this year. I am very pleased that we have agreed a key priority to resist the proposed cuts in the nephrops quota and the proposal to increase the minimum landing size for nephrops in the Irish Sea. We do not believe these measures are justified for conservation reasons and, if implemented, the proposals will have devastating impact on the catching and processing sectors north and south. We are determined to resist these proposals.”

Discussion also took place on a joint approach on other stocks, particularly cod and herring, in the Irish Sea.

Minister Gildernew added: “Under the Cod Recovery Plan, which I opposed, the Commission has proposed a 25% cut in the total allowable catch and in fishing effort. We will be pointing out to the Commission the serious impact this will have on the few remaining white fish vessels fishing these stocks, and will be seeking means of reducing this impact. On herring, I will also be making a case for the Total Allowance Catch to be increased, based on the very useful work which the industry and our scientists have been undertaking jointly.”

The Ministers agreed to continue to work closely together in the run up to this year’s Council and, in the longer term, on their approach to the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

Notes to editors:

1. The Commission has proposed a 30% cut in the nephrops TAC in ICES Sea Area VII which covers all the waters in the Irish Sea round to the west of Ireland.
2. The Commission is also proposing to increase the minimum landing size of nephrops in the Irish Sea from 20mm tail length to 25mm tail length.
3. The December Council meeting to agree future fishing opportunities will take place on 14/15 December in Brussels.
4. The Commission Green Paper on reform of the Common Fisheries Policy was published in April 2009.
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