Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I emphasise the importance of ensuring that it is off the ICES advice regarding the figure of 955,000 this year. If that updated figure is used, the equivalent impact on the Irish fishing fleet would be a total allowable catch for mackerel in 2020 of 77,500 tonnes as opposed to just over 55,000 tonnes. This would be a net benefit of €40 million for the mackerel sector so the stakes are quite high. The fact that the additional mackerel quota allocated by ICES as a result of the revised estimates in the middle of this year was not figured and built into this year's total allowable catch has resulted in €20 million less in respect of the value of mackerel for this year. We support the Government. It is essential that the full impact of the revised estimate is the actual outcome as a result of the talks for the total allowable catch for 2020.

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