€50m inshore fishing plan launched

A NEW management framework for the country’s €50 million wild shell fisheries industry was launched in Galway yesterday.

Marine Minister Pat “The Cope” Gallagher said the framework will harness the expertise of Ireland’s inshore fishermen in a new partnership with his department, BIM and other State agencies.

“This forward-thinking approach of co-operative partnership between the State and industry will see all stakeholders in inshore fisheries working together to produce tailored management plans for inshore stocks. I believe this will be of huge benefit to the sector going forward,” he said.

Inshore fishing vessels account for 80% of the Irish fishing fleet. Some 3,500 fishermen are directly employed, full and part-time, in the inshore sector. The management structure, introduced under this new policy, consists of four species advisory groups, each consisting of six State and six industry members. They will produce three to five-year management plans outlining policy and regulations for each of the main fisheries.

They will also be a key contact point for fishermen who wish to have issues addressed. Local Advisory Committees, comprising local fishermen, will produce their own local plans, which will feed into the relevant species advisory group.

Mr Gallagher, who was speaking at the opening of a two-day fisheries exhibition, said sound objectives and good management must always rely on solid counsel.

The best available expertise within the fishing industry, BIM, the Marine Institute and his department will be utilised to produce scientifically-based management advice.

He said that in the last five years, some €10 million in Government and EU grant aid has been delivered to the inshore sector. He also reminded fishermen that safety grants remain available for all fishing vessels, including successful applicants under the special scheme for potting boats.

Fishermen from Kilmore Quay port in Co Wexford protested outside the exhibition in Galway against Government policies which they say will destroy their livelihoods, cost at least 100 jobs and devastate their region.

The fishermen are angry that the department’s fishing plan for scallop fishery only provides for three boats to remain fishing in Kilmore, the country’s biggest scallop-fishing region, where 18 boats are currently fishing.

Fine Gael marine spokesman, John Perry said Mr Gallagher must now provide a viable solution to protect the future of an industry that is the backbone of the south-east economy.