Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Simon Coveney TD today welcomed the start of important international negotiations on the mackerel stock in the North East Atlantic. The negotiations are being hosted by the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine on behalf of Ireland in the National Seafood Centre in Clonakilty, County Cork.
Minister Coveney said that “I am very pleased that Ireland is hosting these negotiations. Mackerel is the single most important stock for the Irish fleet and we need to secure agreement at international level on management arrangements for this stock. I very much hope that agreement on a sustainable strategy can be reached this week at what I am sure will be intensive and difficult talks.”
The aim of the negotiations is to try and reach agreement between the EU, Norway, Iceland & the Faeroe Islands on the total allowable catch (TAC) for mackerel for 2016. The Russian Federation and Greenland will also participate as observers. Up to 70 international delegates are expected in West Cork for the three day negotiations.
Minister Coveney went on to say that "Mackerel is very important both for the Irish catching sector and to our seafood processing industry in Donegal and along the western seaboard and provides significant seasonal employment in Donegal, Galway, Kerry and Cork. Our aim this week and always is to have a sustainable long term management strategy for this vital shared stock.”
Officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, supported by scientists from the Marine Institute will represent Ireland at these negotiations.