An agreement has been reached between the EU and UK on fishing opportunities for shared fish stocks for 2023.
The negotiations concluded before the 20 December deadline and allows quotas to be set for the full year.
Most of Ireland’s commercial fish stocks are shared with the UK and the successful conclusion of this agreement is said to provide greater certainty and stability for the fleet heading into 2023.
In a statement Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue says that there will be increases in the quotas for some of Ireland’s most important commercial stocks.
Restricted, by-catch only quotas have been set for some vulnerable stocks caught in mixed fisheries including cod stocks around the coast and for the Horse Mackerel stock to help these stocks recover.
In addition, the North West Herring fishery will be reopened as a commercial fishery.
This fishery was closed, other than for the collection of data for scientific purposes, since 2015.
Concluding, Minister McConalogue says that it will be important to manage all these fish stocks in order to continue to build on the progress that has been made to date.
