EU Commissioner agrees to re-examine white fish proposals

The European Commission has agreed to re-examine the proposed total ban on whitefish fishing off the Donegal Coastline. The Federation of Irish Fishermen met with Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg yesterday 3 December.

The delegation had earlier met with Fine Gael MEPs, Colm Burke and Avril Doyle, Members of the Fisheries Committee in the European Parliament after being invited to do so by Mr Higgins.

At the meeting with Commissioner Borg, also attended by Jim Higgins MEP, the Federation stressed the devastating consequences for Greencastle and other fishing communities in Donegal if the ban on cod, whiting and haddock goes ahead.

Welcoming the commitment to re-examine the ban Mr Higgins said:

"The Federation argued strongly that it is working on alternative strategy which would enable fishing fishing of the white fish species to continue while taking into consideration the scientific data which the commission has gathered.

"Hopefully when the alternative plan is presented to the Commission a workable and acceptable agreement can be reached. I will continue to support the work of the Federation and will be liaising closely with them to ensure the original Commission proposal is not put into action."