Minister Coffey welcomes successful outcome for fishing quotas for Waterford

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey has welcomed the successful outcome of the negotiations for fishing quotas for 2016.  This agreement was negotiated by my colleague Minister for Agriculture, Food and The Marine Simon Coveney TD in Brussells that will benefit Fishermen around Waterford and in particular Dunmore East.

“For the third consecutive year, the values of whitefish and prawn quotas available in 2016 show an increase.  The overall 8% increase in quota for prawns, one of Ireland’s most valuable fisheries, includes a quota uplift to support the introduction of the discards ban. 

“The whitefish quotas agreed amounted to a value of €131m, an increase of €10m on the 2015 figure and the prawn fishery that is Ireland’s most important whitefish fishery and was facing a 10% cut going into Council.   The final quota outcome will see an 8% increase, an additional €4.8m in value terms over last year for the prawn fleet.

“In Dunmore East whitefish quotas have increased by 7% overall and the most notable increases were in Whiting (26%), Megrim (5%), and Hake (21%).   The fishing industry is an important sector in Ireland’s economy and it is important that we manage our stocks so they are not depleted and it is positive now, that for the third year in a row, that Fishermen in Dunmore East will be able to catch more fish in 2016.”

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