Fishing sector ‘could be at sea’ after delays in EU approval for new weighing system

The EU Commission has ordered that catches must be weighed at the pier rather than when they are transported to fish processing factories

The start of the year is the key fishing season for the most valuable pelagic fish, which include mackerel, herring, blue whiting, and albacore tuna. Picture: RollingNews.ie

Irish fishers are afraid they are going to miss out on their most valuable fishing season due to the delay in getting EU approval for a new fish weighing system.

Last April, the European Commission ordered that all fish catches must be weighed at the pier rather than when they are transported to fish processing factories due to its suspicions about illegal overfishing by some Irish boats.

The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority [SFPA] came up ...