‘Common sense must prevail over fish catch quotas,’ says industry
Minister Simon Coveney has already signalled to the EU Commission that the proposed quotas and total annual catches (TACs) — ranging from 15%, 25% and even 100% cuts in key quota species — would decimate the Irish fishing industry. Studies by the Marine Institute and BIM offer scientific evidence to support the sustainable nature of Irish fishing.
A delegation from the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) is accompanying Mr Coveney to Brussels this morning to oppose the cuts proposed by EU Commissioner Maria Damanaki.
Fishing regions under threat in Ireland include the south-west, with a proposed 25% cut to the annual haddock and whiting catches; the south, east and west coasts, with a proposed 19% cut to the prawn catch.
FIF chairman Sean O’Donoghue said: “I would be shocked if common sense were not to prevail. Based on scientific studies, our minister will be arguing for a 5% increase in the white fish catch. If those cuts, varying from 15%-100% go ahead, you can forget about having a white fish industry.
“The Commission is saying that we don’t have the proper scientific, analytical reports, but every minister at the council will be bringing relevant data, and they will all be rejecting these proposals. It is incredible that the Commission is proposing a 25% cut in the Boarfish TAC whereas the scientific advice is recommending almost a 250% increase. The Irish industry cannot afford cuts, and we can point to solid scientific evidence of stock recovery in many areas to support that view, not just our self-interest.”
Among data available to the Irish delegation is a study by the Irish Marine Institute indicating quotas in hake, monkfish, nephrops (Dublin Bay prawns), Celtic Sea haddock and whiting among others should be maintained and, in some cases, raised significantly.
Mr Coveney said recently: “BIM shows that there is a potential loss of €16m for the fleet operating in the Celtic Sea, a loss of €5.3m for the fleet in the Irish Sea and €1.2m loss in the north-west. This equates to losses in the order of €60 to €65m for coastal communities where the direct cost and indirect costs (processing, net making, etc) are taken into account.”
Catch quotas for 2012 are not the only subject of concern to Irish fishermen. The discredited Cod Recovery measures for the Irish Sea and the north-west, which are set for a further 25% cut in available fishing days for 2012, must be suspended and a more effective suite of measures — supported by industry — put in place.
The Irish industry also urges the Council of Ministers to adopt the more selective fishing methods which have been promoted by FIF and industry colleagues abroad to substantially reduce high rates of discarding of fish in the Celtic Sea.
There will be good news arising directly from efforts spearheaded by the Irish industry, with a 30% increase in Celtic Sea herring quota sought by industry, and a substantial rise in Celtic Sea cod quota resulting from Irish industry-led seasonal closures supported by other countries and put in place by the EU.
The FIF-led group will also be focused on mackerel agreements with Norway, and the 1976 “Hague preferences” allowing Ireland an additional quota share in many key stocks.
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