Press release
Minister McConalogue presses for protection of EU mackerel quotas
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
At the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council on Monday 26 June, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, highlighted the need to protect the EU’s Mackerel Quota in the face of external threats from third countries.
Minister McConalogue said:
“At Council, Fisheries Ministers held an initial discussion on the preparation for the negotiations on setting quotas for 2024. I set out clearly Ireland’s priorities, including the need for action to prevent the unsustainable actions of other Coastal States, outside of the EU, diluting the EU’s Mackerel quota share.”
Fisheries Ministers also discussed the Conclusions on the European Commission’s Fisheries Policy Package, which was published in February. The Minister acknowledged the considerable progress that has been achieved to date through the framework of the Common Fisheries Policy and the key role played by stakeholders in this regard. However, the Minister also highlighted the need to take account of the significant changes over the past number of years especially Brexit:
“The Package did not, in my view, address the real and detrimental impact of Brexit on Irish fishers in particular. Neither did it address the new reality that the majority of EU fishing opportunities are determined by annual negotiations with third parties.”
The Minister added:
“At my insistence, the Conclusions now include a demand that the Commission fully analyse and report on the impacts of quota transfers, as well as the need to develop a comprehensive strategy for relations with Third Countries. This demand was supported by the majority of Member States.”