The Taoiseach has described a meeting with fishing organisations as “comprehensive and constructive” ahead of next week’s EU quota negotiations in Brussels.
Micheál Martin, along with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon and Minister of State for Fisheries and the Marine Timmy Dooley, along with department officials, met with fishing industry representatives in Government Buildings this week.
Erris based fisherman and Chair of the National Inshore Fishery Forum Eamon Dixon says the Inshore industry provides about 65% of the employment in the fishing sector overall.
He says it’s important to sustain jobs in rural communities and says it is very difficult at present to get young people into the fishing industry at present.
The 2026 fishing quotas negotiations will conclude on Thursday, 11 December and Friday, 12 December in Brussels.
The Fisheries Council will be attended by the fisheries ministers from EU member states.
Eamon Dixon has called for a fair allocation of quota, and he said the impact of the closure of several fisheries, including pollock, as well as pressure on shellfish markets, has had a significant impact on the inshore sector.
He has been giving more details to Midwest News.
