New Fisheries Fund Must be a Help not a Hindrance  

 Speaking after the meeting of the Tri - Council Fisheries Group with the Minister for Fisheries the MP for South Down said;   “It is clear that the soon to be implemented European Fisheries Fund must deliver immediate funding to the industry and management plans that will assist its future development. I am concerned that under the European Fund some of the measures will require significant investment from the boat and business owners and that in this current very difficult financial climate fishermen and businesses will be unable to met the investment require of them to avail of modernisation schemes. I would hope that the Minister will be responsive to this situation and introduce measures that reflect the current economic climate and offer help not a financial burden to the fishermen   Other issues discussed during the meeting were the dreaded annual fisheries negotiation...