France, Italy and Spain account for half of the world's total allowable catch of bluefin tuna.

The total allowable catch was reduced from 39 tonnes last year, based on estimates of the relative abundance of the fish.

The National Fisheries Authority said the delay would allow stock assesments to be completed in maritime provinces to determine the allowable catch.

A separate agreement on fisheries that would allow for annual negotiations on access to each other's waters, including allowable catch and shares.

So what is needed is a total allowable catch so we don't have too many vessels or too much effort chasing too few fish.

In November ICCAT, the intergovernmental body in charge of managing tuna, lowered the total allowable catch to 13,500 tonnes for 2010.

EU fisheries ministers have agreed to introduce Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas for deep-sea species of fish.

The two sides will probably negotiate fishing quotas, as the EU currently does with Norway, whereby so-called total allowable catches are shared among EU countries.

Irish fishermen are likely to face new restrictions and cuts in their total allowable catches from next year, the European commissioner for fisheries signalled yesterday.

Minister George Eustice says it's a "great opportunity" to look afresh at trade and also issues like Britain's share of fishing's Total Allowable Catch.

Dr Woods complained of discrimination against the Republic in allocating it 26.5 per cent of the Total Allowable Catch for horse mackerel.

The Fisheries Council increased the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of herring from the Celtic Sea for Irish vessels from 6,900 tonnes to 11,200 tonnes.