The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Ahern, has secured final agreement on the new Irish Box, which he hailed as a "very good deal for Irish fishermen".
Fishing industry organisations have given a qualified welcome to the agreement, secured at the last fisheries council meeting under the Irish EU presidency in Luxembourg yesterday. However, the organisations have questioned information given to the European Commission by three EU member-states in relation to access to waters outside the new restricted fishing zone.
The Irish Box deal comes after over 18 months of negotiations and a failed bid by Spain, supported by the European Commission, to have the Irish Box scrapped altogether. Access to the smaller zone off the south and west Irish coast is based on a new system of fishing effort for member-states, reflecting past track records. The three main industry organisations are happy with the Irish Box arrangement, but are concerned about the figures submitted to the European Commission by Britain, France and Spain, making a case for increased effort outside the Box area.
"We are not satisfied with this aspect, but this is probably the best deal we can get and time will tell in relation to its effectiveness," Mr Jason Whooley, of the Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation, said.
Mr Sean O'Donoghue, of the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation, said that measures may be taken to challenge the deal given to Britain and France in the north-west area. Increased effort by these countries poses a real threat to the Irish crab fishery valued at €8 million annually at first point of landing, he said.
Mr Ahern also secured agreement on an environmental programme which may reward fishermen who moved towards more sustainable catching methods. He said that implementation of the environmental programme would go a "long way" towards addressing the issue of fish discards - where almost a quarter of all catches are rejected.
Mr Ahern has also approved a new round of grants worth almost €2 million for seafood industry projects.
The projects range from improved monitoring and assessment for managing shrimp fisheries to developing new gear which will allow Irish vessels to exploit their quota for albacore tuna.
