EU ministers struck a deal early this morning over maximum 2006 catches, restricting the days trawlers can spend at sea to try to prevent species like cod from collapsing following years of overfishing.
Minister of State Pat The Cope Gallagher
The Irish delegation attending the talks, lead by Minister for the Marine Pat "the Cope" Gallagher, claimed a number of successes, despite the overall quota cuts.
Despite advice from scientists for a blanket ban on cod trawling in areas like the North Sea, Irish Sea and western Scottish waters, the ministers agreed to average cuts of 15 per cent and also reduced the days that cod-fishing vessels may spend at sea.
But the European Commission, which administers the EU's fishing policy, was forced to offer some slight increases in its initial catch proposals, along with a few seasonal closures of waters to protect overfished species whose numbers are worryingly low.
Quotas for the EU's major stocks of cod, herring and whiting were reduced by some 15 per cent, diplomats said.
But Mr Gallagher said these cuts have been offset. with increases in the herring quote in the north, south, and northwest, a 15 per cent increase in the amount of prawn allowed to be caught, and a 5 per cent increase for monkfish. These are more valuable to Irish fishermen.
"I expect that the value of the quotas achieved at this Council will deliver an increased income of approximately 15 per cent to Irish fishermen next year, Mr Gallagher said this morning.
He added: "I went into these negotiations determined to secure a fair deal for the Irish fishing industry, while ensuring that our stocks which are depleted are protected and given time to recover," he said.
"I believe that the outcome of these talks has achieved this aim."
Trawlers that target species like haddock and monkfish will also be limited in the days they may spend at sea to stop them picking up too much cod by accident, with reductions ranging from 5 to 10 per cent in the number of permitted days per year.
The Commission says cod stocks are in a "truly alarming" state in many areas like the North and Irish Seas, waters off western Scotland and between Denmark and Sweden - and so low in some waters that scientists cannot reliably estimate numbers.
"The agreement reached will provide greater protection for the species most threatened. Overall fishing possibilities will be reduced ... also for those species for which cod is a by-catch," EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg said.
"On the overall package, I think it is a very satisfactory deal," he told a news conference after the deal was reached.