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by MICHELLE O’NEILL MLA MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL
DEVELOPMENT IN THE STORMONT EXECUTIVE
t is widely accepted that the Common Fisheries Policy needs radical reform. The European Parlia- ment and the Council of Ministers now have a once in a decade opportunity to improve the policy, to address its key failings and deliver the radical reform needed to have sustainably managed fisher- ies and a vibrant, profitable fishing industry. The agreement of a ‘General Approach’ by EU Fisheries Ministers in June 2012 was an important first step in securing genuine and effective CFP reform.
I Diversity
Fisheries throughout EU waters are varied in terms of the stocks being fished, the fleets that fish them and the fishing methods used. But this diversity is often not factored in when EU policies and rules are developed for fisher- ies management and we must move away from a one-size-fits-all approach. I want to see
greater regionalisation of fisheries management and greater involvement by Member States working together with their fishing industries to develop bespoke, long-term management plans. These plans need to be robust, science-based and their formulation must take full account of the particular circumstances of fisheries and local fisheries man- agement knowledge.
The main stock fished by the north of lreland fleet is nephrops and this year the prices have been strong, which has improved the incomes of skippers