Northern Ireland fishermen have accused their southern counterparts of shooting themselves in the foot by demanding restrictions on the number of days fished in the Irish Sea.
The Northern Ireland Fish Producers' Association (NIFPA) has claimed the days-at-sea proposals introduced by Irish fishermen during the intensive talks in Brussels had rebounded on them.
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"The southern Irish industry seriously misplayed their cards and shot themselves in the foot. They went running to the EC with their own proposals and gave it the green light to impose restrictions," NIFPA spokesperson Mr Dick James said.
"The proposals were aimed at limiting our days at sea but we ended up with five more days per month than they have because of our decommissioning scheme," he added.
Further restrictions imposed on the Irish Sea mean that Northern Ireland whitefish boats have a maximum of 17 days per month, while prawn boats have been allotted 22 days a month at sea.
Mr James feared that the EC may impose tighter restrictions in the years ahead. "The days at sea programme leaves in the loop for European Commission hard nose negotiating for 2005."
But he welcomed the changes in fishing quotas which see an increase of 10 per cent for cod with the prospect of another 50 per cent and a rise of 260 per cent in haddock.
"All in all I'm happy, especially with the reduced fleet we have with decommissioning, we will able to survive in 2004."
PA