A meeting of the EU Fisheries Ministers this week agreed on regulations aimed at reducing the level of byactach in certain EU Fisheries. The meeting, held on the 22/23 March agreed a compromise proposal for a regulation aimed at tackling the problem of small cetacean bycatch.
The IWDG is still reviewing the agreed texts but welcomes the fact that the Irish Government (represented by Minister Dermot Aherne) supported the regulation. Both Spain and Italy voted against the measures.
The IWDG does also note, however, that the proposed regulations have been significantly weakened in some areas and is reviewing the agreement text before commenting further. The Fisheries Interactions Working Group of the IWDG will shortly be publishing a policy document on bycatch in Irish waters and will comment further at that time.