EUROPEAN COMMISSION officials, the Swedish EU presidency and representatives of seven other EU member states will participate in international coastal state discussions in west Cork this week.
The discussion on the share-out of EU mackerel stock will also be attended by a delegation from Norway and the Faroe islands.
Minister of State for Fisheries Tony Killeen has said it is the “first time that such important international fisheries negotiations have been held in Ireland”.
The discussion will determine arrangements between the EU, Norway and the Faroe Islands for management of the almost three million tonnes of mackerel in the northeast Atlantic next year.
The value of the catch for Irish fishermen is expected to be more than €60 million this year, Mr Killeen noted, and is a key source of seasonal employment in Donegal, Galway, Kerry and Cork.
The discussions are due to take place in Clonakilty, Co Cork, and are set to last all week.
In a separate initiative, Mr Killeen will also open Bord Iascaigh Mhara’s new seafood development centre in Clonakilty. The centre is the first such innovation centre dedicated to seafood in Ireland, and aims to work with the industry to add value to catches of fish and shellfish around the coastline.