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Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney spoke today of the positive outcome of EU fisheries negotiations. The Minister said:

I am delighted at the outcome of these negotiations which delivered my key priorities and will allow the Irish fishing fleet to look forward to 2012 with optimism.   The measures agreed in these negotiations will maximise employment and economic activity in our coastal communities.

Minister Coveney was speaking after three days of intensive negotiations, which concluded in the early hours of this morning.  The Minister described the Council as “very challenging”.

Among the developments of the negotiations were: 

• 141,000 tonnes of pelagic and tuna quotas and 36,000 tonnes of whitefish. 
• the reopening of the Irish Sea prawn fishery which will allow Irish fishing vessels to return to it immediately. This fishery had been closed in mid-October and was due to remain closed until 1 February 2012 but will now reopen after Minister Coveney secured additional fishing effort entitlements for the Irish fleet.
• An agreement on total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas in 2012 on a number of species of particular economic importance to the Irish industry including the agreement to maintain quotas of prawns in the Irish Sea and off the south and south-west coasts.  This fishery is estimated to be worth €52 million in 2012.
• An increase of 77%  in the Irish quota for cod in the Celtic Sea.  The Minister said that the Commission accepted the strong case he made for an increase in quotas for haddock and whiting in the Celtic Sea of 25 per cent and 15 per cent respectively.   The original Commission proposal was for a 25 per cent reduction in both stocks.
•  In addition, this morning’s agreement ensures that quotas for Pollock and Saithe in the Celtic Sea will remain at existing levels next year.
• The Irish quota for Celtic Sea herring is increasing from 11,407 tonnes to 18,236 tonnes, a 60 per cent increase.
•  An increase in the Irish quota of 155 per cent for the spring Boarfish fishery off the south-west coast. 
• An increase of 200 per cent in the haddock quota off Donegal.
• An increase of 342 tonnes to 3,896 tonnes for 2012 in the quota for the Albocore Tuna summer fishery, off the south-west coast.
• The Blue Whiting quota for the spring fishery, off the north-west coast, has increased from 1,187 tonnes this year to 7,498 tonnes for 2012.
• Minister Coveney also recognised the position in relation to cod in the Irish Sea and accepted the proposal to reduce the TAC for 2012 by 25 per cent.

Mr Coveney said he was satisfied that Ireland had achieved what was necessary in this year’s negotiations to provide significant opportunities for the fishing industry and coastal communities around the country and will protect our fishing stocks for future sustainability.