Factories on the line as fish talks begin

THE future of four Irish fish-processing factories was on the line last night after talks began yesterday in Brussels on the setting of new fish quotas for EU countries.

About 200 people are employed in the factories in Galway, Dingle, Baltimore and Wexford processing herring, but the European Commission want to reduce catches by 35% next year.

Jason Whooley of the Irish Fishermen’s Federation said Ireland is particularly vulnerable when it comes to cuts in Celtic sea herring as it gets about 85% of the total quota for the year.

“If the proposed cut of 35% goes ahead, it will put the future of the four herring processing factories in doubt. It will have grave consequences for the jobs in the factories and also for the fishermen,” he said.

The processed herring is worth about €5m to the economy, but there was no sign of the commission changing its stance on the quota reduction when it tabled its first compromise proposals, during the first day of talks.

The other main issue for Ireland’s fishing industry is that of cod.

The commission wants to reduce by 20% the number of days fishermen can spend at sea catching cod and they propose extending this to the West of Ireland and South West areas from 2008.

This box has been closed down completely for a number of months each year for the past few years. Last year it was out of bounds for February and March and Irish fishermen want this system to continue.

“We are convinced that this complete closure for a number of months is working very well but the commission proposes changing this without scientifically evaluating the current regime,” Mr Whooley said.

Extending the limit on the days at sea to this Irish box will have an impact also on cod fishermen from the rest of the country as they will no longer be able to fish there when they have fished their quota of days in the other regions.

“This displacement effect is a big issue as no fishermen can survive on being able to fish for just ten to 15 days a month — which is what is on the table,” he said.

On the positive side, the fishermen support the commission’s proposal to harmonise mesh size for gill nets being used off the Irish coast.

“Irish fishermen are using the regulation size, and, if it is harmonised, it would give other fishermen no opportunity to flout the regulation.

“We hope our minister will stand firm on this,” said Mr Whooley.