NI Conservatives’ agriculture and fisheries spokesman, commercial fisherman Paul Leeman, has welcomed many of the results of the EU’s annual quota negotiations, but expressed concern at reductions in the quotas for sole and cod.
“These negotiations are always extremely important for the fishing industry and, for the most part, the results this time are positive”, Paul explained. “The Conservative minister, Richard Benyon, has done a great job of standing up for fishermen in Northern Ireland. It is great news for prawn fishermen that their quotas have been substantially increased.”
“Unfortunately there are concerns over the cod quota and the sole quota for the Irish Sea, which were cut. The minister must take a lot of credit, though, for keeping these reductions to a minimum. The deal which he secured is good for the health of our seas, but it is also good for the fishing industry in Northern Ireland.”