Tony Killeen has welcomed the conclusion of EU/Norway consultations on fisheries in Brussels yesterday which gives long term stability for the mackerel stock.
Minister Killeen, Irish Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with special responsibility for Forestry, Fisheries and the Marine, expressed his relief that measures were agreed with Norway on a number of fronts which will put Ireland's fisheries on a more stable footing for future years. "These talks which are normally complex and cover a number of management issues relating to joint fish stocks, control, setting TAC's and exchanges in fishing opportunities, were further complicated by the irresponsible fishing activities of Iceland on the mackerel stock, demands by the Faroe Islands for more mackerel quota and most importantly a dispute between Norway and the EU on access arrangements for the mackerel fishery", he stated.
The Minister continued: "In the final analysis reaching agreement hinged on the mackerel issue and I am heartened that as the two largest shareholders of this most important stock, Norway and the EU, now have a common understanding and more importantly a comprehensive 10 year deal on mackerel arrangements. This separate agreement to the normal bi-lateral arrangements on fishing opportunities commences in 2011, and will provide much needed stability and security for our fishermen and processors into the future".
