December 20th 2006

“Federation Awaits Commencement of Crucial Annual Fisheries Talks ”

The annual Council of Fisheries Ministers meeting to decide on the 2007 fish quotas and important related issues begins tomorrow in Brussels and is expected to conclude late Wednesday (20th) or early on Thursday (21st). Representatives of the organisations which form the Federation of Irish Fishermen will depart for Brussels this evening as will the Irish negotiating delegation led by Minister John Brown.

These annual talks will set the parameters for the activities of Irish and indeed European fishing fleets in 2007. Critical decisions regarding key quotas and the days vessels are allowed to fish in the Irish Sea and off the Northwest coast will be decided. FIF has had extensive discussions with the Minister and his officials in the past week to signal our major concerns regarding fishing effort and quota cuts proposed by the EU Commission. It is vital that our negotiating team are successful in forestalling cuts in key pelagic fisheries such as Celtic Sea Herring and Northwest Herring or quotas and fishing effort in the context of a major review already planned for 2007 of Cod Recovery measures.

The industry also rejects any threat to the operation of so called "Hague Preferences", a longstanding mechanism which adjusts quota levels for some stocks in Ireland's favour in the annual shareout. These arrangements are an integral part of our system of quotas and cannot be tampered with in any circumstances.