Fine Gael Minister of State Joe McHugh TD said; “I welcome today’s news from Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed TD of the positive outcome for Irish Fishermen at the international fisheries negotiations which concluded today at the National Seafood Centre in Clonakilty, Co. Cork, where the new mackerel quota for Irish fishermen for 2017 will be 86,429 tonnes – an increase of over 10,500 tonnes from 2016.”
The negotiations, between the European Union, Norway, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland were focused on the management of the €1billion annual mackerel fishery in the North East Atlantic.
Minister Creed speaking following today’s news, “Mackerel is our most valuable fishery and allied to the fact that we are the second largest EU quota holder these negotiations are of crucial importance to the Irish fishing industry. In that context, I very much welcome the outcome of the international mackerel negotiations today, hosted by Ireland, in which Irish fishermen will now have over 10,500 tonnes more in 2017. This is worth over €10million directly to our catching sector with further value to be added by our mackerel processing factories in Donegal, Galway, Kerry and Cork”.
The quotas agreed for 2017 are consistent with the Long term Management Strategy agreed by the parties last year to provide sustainability and stability in this hugely valuable fishery in line with the scientific advice.
Minister Joe McHugh TD, “I wish to congratulate all the members involved in the discussions, in particular, Sean O’Donoghue of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation, Patrick Murphy of the Irish South & West Fishermen’s Organisation and Francis O’Donnell of the Irish Fish Producers Organisation, all of whom Minister Creed has described as being” very helpful to the Irish negotiating team” throughout the consultation period.
“Today’s news will result in further support for the seafood sector, which will see an increase in quotas and stability for the fishing sector in the coming years. This is a very positive deal for our fishing sector, which will see huge benefits in our coastal counties, such as Donegal. “
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