EU marine ministers to resume fish quota negotiations
EU marine ministers are due to resume their negotiations on fishing quotas for next year in Brussels today after failing to reach agreement at four days of talks.
The negotiations have been extended following the lack of agreement on drastic cuts designed to protect dwindling fish stocks in EU waters. The European Commission, acting on the advice of scientists, is seeking cuts of up to 80% in the quotas for fish such as cod and haddock.
One of the main issues facing Irish negotiators is a Spanish request for changes to the rules governing the so-called Irish Box, an exclusion zone where there are strict restrictions on the activities of non-Irish fishing vessels.
Dermot Ahern, the Minister for Communications and the Marine, is reportedly refusing to compromise on this issue.
Irish fishermen have also demanded a fairer share of the EU's 2003 quotas after pointing out that Ireland had just 5% of the quotas this year, despite accounting for 11% of European fishing waters.
