Minister Smith and EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg have discussed a number of issues of key importance to Ireland in advance of the upcoming December Fisheries Council. It is said that the Council sets the level of Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and Quotas for 2009 in addition to putting legal effect to fishery conservation and management measures, and third party agreements.
According to Minister Smith over the last few weeks Minister Killeen and he have consulted closely with the Federation of Irish Fishermen with a view to bringing forward a clear Irish position on the wide range of subjects tabled for decision at the December Council. He also said that having taken on board the views of the fishing industry he sought the meeting with Commissioner Borg to inform him in no uncertain terms as to Ireland’s stance on the various proposals being brought forward.
Minister Smith informed that the main issues for Ireland include the maintenance of the Hague preferences, opposing the proposal for the restrictions on fishing in ICES area VI and mitigating against the levels of proposed reductions in TACs across a wide range of fish stocks. He told that it is hard to justify from a scientific perspective, the proposal to reduce the Nephrops TAC by 15 percent.
The Minister opined that they have been very active on the wide range of proposals as they affect Ireland, and where necessary, have elicited the support of the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara in preparing and submitting what we feel are better alternatives.
