Fishermen brace for up to 15% cut in catches as EU holds crunch talks

IRISH fishermen were bracing themselves for more cuts in the amount of fish they can take from the sea next year.

Talks which began on Tuesday have been very slow and were set to continue late last night in Brussels, where the EU’s fisheries ministers were gathered for the annual negotiations.

On the table is a reduction of up to 15% in the amount of cod, herring, whiting and prawns that can be caught from January, together with a reduction in the length of time trawlers can spend at sea.

The Irish fishing industry and Marine Minister Pat the Cope Gallagher oppose these cuts, which are proposed mainly because cod can be caught as a byproduct when fishing for these species.

“The talks are proving to be very difficult but we continue to make our case,” said Mr Gallagher.

The European Commission say that despite conservations measures over the past few years, the situation for cod is serious. The state of cod stocks in areas such as the North Sea, Eastern Channel and the Irish Sea are described as “truly alarming.”

The commission said stocks are so low scientists cannot provide an accurate estimate of their numbers.

The proposals go further than reducing the cod catch however, and cuts are also proposed for other fish associated with cod. Fishermen frequently catch cod in their nets when fishing for species such as herring and whiting.

Jason Whooly of the Irish South and West Fishermen’s Organisation, who is in Brussels for the talks, said: “There is no justification for the cuts in herring, whiting or prawns.”

A 4,500 mile zone off the Irish coast was closed from January to March this year as proposed by the industry, but Belgian fishing boats were given a derogation and allowed into the zone in March last year.

Mr Whooly said they want to see the grounds closed to all vessels in February and March 2006 with no exceptions. However, he added there has not been a scientific study of the area to evaluate the state of the cod stocks as a result of the closure.

“We could have achieved great success in this zone but unfortunately we don’t know what the situation is,” he said.

The Commission proposes a six-month ban on gil nets that can cover as much as 150km at a time and are hugely wasteful of fish. Ireland supports this measure, which will affect Spanish, French, British and some German boats.

The only good news was an increase in quotas for hake and monkfish and possible aid for fishermen reeling from higher diesel costs.

The Commission is proposing ways in which member states may help their fishing sector for example with replacing trawler engines to reduce fuel consumption.

There were reports that despite the low cod stocks some Ministers were insisting on increasing quotas in the Baltic Sea next year from 35,000t to 45,000t. This will not affect the Irish fishing fleet.