Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher welcomes the advice today of the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) recommendation of a 19.7% increase in Mackerel catches for 2020.
This comes on top of the scientific advice in May 2019 which recommended a 20% increase on 2019’s Total Allowable Catch.
The extra catch will be worth €30M at the point of landing.
The increase of May was not passed onto the fishing sector, therefore it follows that the Irish Quota for 2020 should increase by approx. 40% from 55,313 tons to approx.77,500 tons.
Deputy Gallagher said “Last year I challenged the ICES’ advice and was disappointed with the Coastal States that they did not increase the TAC midterm, so it is vitally important that the sector gets the benefits next year.
“The threat of Brexit still hangs over the fishing sector however I am confident that a deal or an extension can be agreed which would allow our fisherman to continue fishing mackerel in UK waters where we catch 60% of our mackerel.”
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