December Fisheries Council Meeting

Ulster Unionist MLA John McCallister has voiced his concern ahead of next weeks Fisheries Council meeting where it is understood proposals will be put forward to cut quotas in Northern Ireland.

Commenting on the meeting Mr McCallister said; "Next week the Fisheries Council will meet - what announcements they make at that meeting may be deeply worrying for those within the fishing industry in Northern Ireland. Additional red tape and regulations from Europe are making it more difficult for local fishermen to make a living. A 50% cut in prawn quotas would be catastrophic for the small fishing industry that remains in Northern Ireland."

"I met with my colleague Jim Nicholson MEP today and I raised my concerns with him. He is planning to meet with the EU Fisheries Commissioner this week and will pass on the anxiety felt by local people. Cutting quotas will not only affect the fishermen, but it will also have a knock on affect on processing on shore and if restrictions keep coming we are in danger of getting to the stage where our processing sector is simply not viable."

"The Ulster Unionist Party will continue to lobby on the issue and try to ensure that yet more restrictions are placed on an industry which is already struggling for survival."