DONEGAL MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher has helped secure a victory for Ireland with new EU fishing laws.
Today in Strasbourg, the European Parliament voted by 502 in favour to 135 against to amend the Common Fisheries Policy.
Pat the Cope described as a “significant victory for Ireland” the approval of his amendment on the Hague Preferences.
Mr. Gallagher said “the Hague Resolution of 1976 reinforces the right of Ireland to protect, sustain and develop its coastal communities and I am pleased that the European Parliament decided to support my amendment seeking to enshrine the Hague agreement into the reform.”
“The report also protects the Irish Box which is a nursery for juvenile fish and is extremely important in the management of fish stocks in western waters.
“The European Parliament report amounts to an ambitious and radical reform of the common fisheries policy. The report introduces a discard ban with avoidance and minimisation measures, a commitment to rebuild and to restore fish stocks by 2020 by the principle of Maximum Sustainable Yield, greater regionalisation and special recognition for small scale and inshore fisheries.”
However, Pat the Cope has cautioned that the decisions made today by the European Parliament are all subject to further negotiation with the Council of Ministers and the European Commission. These so-called ‘trialogue’ negotiations are expected to start in early March under the Irish Presidency.
Pat the Cope also confirmed today that “I will be heavily involved in these forthcoming negotiations as a representative of the European Parliament.”
Tags:
