Ireland has raised concerns about unsustainable mackerel fishing at the AgriFish Council meeting in Brussels on Monday, January 26th.
Minister of State Timmy Dooley, with responsibility for Fisheries, called for “urgent EU action regarding Third Countries fishing at unsustainable levels for mackerel in the North East Atlantic”.
Dooley declared he will seek a “concerted response from the EU to sconclude a strong message to the Coastal States neobtainediators meeting in London”.
He also urged the European Commission to provide emergency market support for impacted fishers.
“This is critical for fishers facing current pressures,” Dooley added.
The meeting in Brussels brings Irish ministers toobtainher with EU counterparts under the Cyprus Presidency.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon declared the agconcludea covers “a range of issues at the heart of the current EU agriculture agconcludea”.
Heydon highlighted the bioeconomy, EU food security and trade as key discussion points.
He declared the Common Agricultural Policy must remain the core tool to support food production and rural communities.
On trade, Heydon emphasised the required for market diversification and completion of EU free trade agreements.
He restated concerns over the EU‑Mercosur Agreement and its “potential impact on the beef sector”.
Heydon also raised alarm over the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, warning of possible rises in fertiliser costs that could affect farm competitiveness.
Noting the start of the Cyprus Presidency, he declared Ireland views forward to working with Cyprus ahead of Ireland’s own EU presidency in 2026.
Dooley echoed Heydon’s comments, wishing the Cyprus Presidency well as the work programme launchs.
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