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Prawn and tuna quotas hike will benefit local fishermen

December 19th, 2017 10:10 PM

By Southern Star Team

Minister Creed gives the ‘thumbs up' after two days of negotiations on quotas.

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Increases in prawn and tuna quotas have been negotiated for Irish fishermen for 2018 and will specifically benefit the ports of Union Hall and Castletownbere. 

INCREASES in prawn and tuna quotas have been negotiated for Irish fishermen for 2018 and will specifically benefit the ports of Union Hall and Castletownbere. 

A total package of fish quotas worth €266m has been secured  for Irish fishermen next year, after two days of intensive negotiations by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD. 

The main outcomes negotiated include a 15% increase in the prawn quota, worth €10.6m, which will benefit Union Hall and Castletownbere.

Also included is a 13% increase for Albacore Tuna,  which is  also important for Castletownbere. 

For the mixed whitefish fisheries off the south coast, a 2% increase in cod, a roll-over in monkfish, an 11% reduction in haddock, and a 19% reduction in whiting – all in accordance with the scientific advice – are also included in the package. 

For 2018, a total of 40,168 tonnes of whitefish quotas were agreed.   

Minister Creed said: ‘The total €152m value of the whitefish quotas secured for the Irish fishing fleet amounts to an 8% increase in value from last year and a 3% increase in volume. I am satisfied that this is a good and balanced result overall.’

Ireland’s quota for prawns amounts to 10,729 tonnes with a value of €83m. The Minister added: ‘This year we secured a  15% increase in prawns, worth over €10.6m directly to the Irish fleet, which is the biggest single increase in over a decade and shows the very healthy state of this stock, overall.’

Minister Creed spoke of the positive outcome for the Irish Sea where he said that ‘the Irish sea cod and haddock stocks have recovered after many years of intensive industry led conservation measures.’ 

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