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Fishing industry gets cash boost Fishing industry gets cash boost
(about 7 hours later)
Northern Ireland's fishing industry is to be given a £25m investment by the assembly. Northern Ireland's fishing industry has been given an investment boost of more than £25m.
Details of the funding will be made public later on Wednesday by Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew. Fisheries Minister Michelle Gildernew said £12.76m European funding would be matched by a grant from the assembly.
Ms Gildernew will make the announcement when she visits the fishing ports at Kilkeel, Ardglass and Portavogie. She said that over the next seven years it was proposed through the draft budget that £25m of public funds would go towards the fishing industry.
The funding is ahead of key negotiations at this December's fishing council in Brussels. However, Ms Gildernew warned that a "difficult round of negotiations" with EU officials lay ahead.
The funding announcement comes ahead of key negotiations at December's fishing council in Brussels.
"The commission is proposing 25% cuts in days at sea for both prawn and whitefish vessels which would have a very detrimental impact on our fleet," she said.
"The commission is proposing cuts of 15% for haddock, 9% for herring, 6% for plaice and 25% for cod.
"There is therefore a great deal at stake and I shall be doing my utmost to ensure that I get the very best deal for our industry."
Local fishermen called on Ms Gildernew to provide hardship payments and help with rising fuel prices.
The demands were put to her as she visited County Down fishing ports on Wednesday.