The fisheries resource is the bedrock of the Irish seafood industry. The waters around Ireland contain some of the most productive fishing grounds and biologically sensitive areas in the EU. Annually in excess of 1.2 million tonnes of fish are taken by the fishing fleets of EU member states from the waters around Ireland (ICES Sub-areas VI & VII). The main fish species caught are mackerel, horse mackerel, boarfish, blue whiting, herring, cod, whiting, haddock, saithe, hake, megrim, anglerfish, plaice, sole and Nephrops