Agreement has been reached between the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council under its Irish Presidency on measures to stop overfishing and ban the practice of discards – where fish is dumped overboard from fishing vessels either because the quota has been reached or because the fish are the wrong species or size. The deal, struck on 30 May, should allow a more sustainable common fisheries policy to take effect at the start of 2014.

The talks were led by the Irish agriculture, food and marine minister Simon Coveney, who said: “At the very beginning of Ireland’s Presidency I set out an ambitious and demanding work programme, as I believed it was imperative that reform of our fisheries had to happen now.

“Having led months of intensive negotiations, I am delighted that we have now agreed on a policy which is practical, implementable and one which places sustainability firmly at its core.

“It is a policy which will provide for a vital, vibrant industry and healthy fishing stock long into the future.”

Gabriel Mato Adrover of Spain, the chair of the European Parliament Fisheries Committee said: “Today is an important day for the common fisheries policy; but crucially, it is an important day for all the European institutions. For the first time, the fisheries policy is reformed under co-decision. This shows the importance of all institutions, who proved to be capable of working together to reach an agreement. We had to work hard and follow a journey which sometimes was very challenging. We have all shown a strong political drive to overcome many obstacles, and shown generosity in order to move forward and make real progress.”

The new policy will set quotas that fully respect scientific advice, leading to healthy fish stocks and higher quotas as fish stocks are managed at maximum sustainable yield levels. The discarding of fish stocks will no longer be allowed, ending the policy that forced fishermen to waste food by discarding fish at sea.

Fishing vessels will have to land at least 95% of all catches in accordance with a schedule of specific dates for different fisheries, starting gradually from 2015, the Parliament said.

On the ending of discards, Minister Coveney said: “This complex element has been one of the most contentious and difficult to agree, given the many different perspectives on how such a ban would work in practice. What we have agreed this morning is to deliver a new fishing policy which strives to help restore our fish stocks and protect the fishermen and communities which depend on fishing for their livelihoods.”

The reform, when taken as a whole, delivers on not just a discards ban but also provides the means for new ways of sustainable fishing, a more transparent and competitive market, as well as empowering fishermen by giving them a central role in decision making for their fisheries, the statement from the Irish Government said.

The agreement will now go forward for final approval by the Committee of Permanent Representatives.