Increase in whitefish quota will benefit Cork fisheries – Harrington

Fine Gael TD for Cork South West, Noel Harrington has said that the increase in whitefish quotas secured by the Minister for Agriculture and the Marine, Simon Coveney at the EU Fisheries Council, will benefit the Cork fisheries sector.

“The increase in whitefish quotas secured by Minister Coveney at the EU Fisheries Council is really good news and will benefit the Cork fisheries sector.

“At Castletownbere and Union Hall, whitefish quotas have increased by 7%. Specifically, the notable increases are in Whiting, up 26%; Megrim, which increases by 5%; and Hake which is up 21%.  There is also a 3% increase in the albacore tuna for the south west tuna fleet.  

“Overall 36,886 tonnes of whitefish quotas were secured for Irish fishermen at the EU negotiations, representing a 10% increase on last year.   This has a value of €131 million to Irish fisheries, an increase of €10m on the 2015 figure. 

“The fisheries and seafood industry is crucial to job creation and economic progress in South West Cork. Securing an increase in the quotas such as this will help the industry to expand and grow, while underpinning the long term sustainability of fish stocks.

“Fine Gael has a plan to keep the recovery going and ensure that indigenous Irish industries, such as our fisheries sector, continue to grow and create employment. Having more people in work creates the resources to cut taxes for working people and invest in better services, improving living standards for all.”