A policy review group has presented the Government with conservation measures aimed at protecting young fish in Irish waters.
The proposals follow some of the toughest cuts ever in fish quotas in the Irish Sea.
The suggested measures have been agreed in consultation with fishermen and, if implemented, may help to protect juvenile fish and adult spawning stocks.
The initiative was co-ordinated by the Government's National Strategy Review Group on the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), which is chaired by the former head of the IDA, Mr Padraic White.
Presenting the findings to the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Woods, in Dublin yesterday, Mr White asked that they be acted upon as soon as possible. They should apply to all member-states fishing in these waters, the group says.
The review group, which is formulating the State's case for the CFP review in 2002, believes setting quotas and total allowable catches is not sufficient to guarantee the long-term sustainability of Ireland and Europe's fish resources.
The five technical conservation measures aim to avoid capture of undersized or juvenile fish and unwanted or "by-catch" species.
They complement EU measures that are being introduced on January 1st.
Selectivity of fishing gear is determined by factors such as mesh size, the presence of attachments on trawls and the geometry of nets. The report says that fixing minimum sizes for some fish and shellfish species will act as a deterrent to taking undersized fish, and spawning or nursery areas can be protected by restricting fishing.
Dr Woods said the measures would be "key elements for the future" but stressed that they must go "hand in hand with effective and even-handed enforcement right across the EU" to ensure catches were strictly limited to what was "biologically sustainable".
He referred to a joint initiative with Northern Ireland and Britain on a stock recovery plan for Irish Sea cod.
"I am confident the plan will help to replenish the stocks and ensure sustainable fisheries in the Irish Sea for the foreseeable future," he said.
