Guarded welcome for EU fish quotas for 2005

FISHERY associations have given a guarded welcome to the fish quotas for 2005 agreed by the European Union after all-night talks.

While the mackerel quota was cut by 27,000 tonnes in a bid to conserve stocks, there were increases in quotas for haddock, hake, monkfish and prawn.

Marine Minister Pat “The Cope” Gallagher said he was disappointed with EU Commissioner Joe Borg’s decision to reduce the mackerel quota. “Of course I’m disappointed at the decision but I’m quite satisfied we have (white fish) quotas for the Irish fishing fleet this year which I hope will be beneficial to coastal Ireland where there is no alternative source of employment.

“We have a substantial increase in blue whiting and we have retained our quota of horse mackerel.”

He said Mr Borg was “very pragmatic and very understanding of the Irish situation”. Mr Gallagher, who served as an MEP from 1994-2002, used extensive contacts in securing 14 fishing days a month for the industry, a day more than the commission proposed.

Mr Borg told a news conference after the talks that the mackerel quota reductions were “necessary measures without economically damaging fleets”.

“There will be less fishing and more protection of stocks,” he added.

However, monkfish quotas have increased by 20%, haddock by 20%, prawn by 12% and hake by 9%.

The commission decided to impose curbs on permitted fishing times and cutting national catch allowances to safeguard threatened stocks such as cod.

Creating no-fishing zones off Ireland, Scotland and Denmark to let threatened stocks recover had previously been a key part of EU Commission proposals. The unexpected departure from that principle left environmentalists outraged.

Jason Whooley, manager of the Irish South and West Fisherman’s Association (IS&WFA), said fishermen are reasonably happy with the deal. Speaking from Brussels, he said: “This is a significant boost but, as is the way with a negotiated common fisheries policy, there are disappointments.

“We had supported the no-fishing zone which would be closed from January to March, but a political intervention means that for one of these months larger trawlers will be allowed in. This is not helpful in the management and conservation of cod stocks.”

Fine Gael marine spokes-man John Perry welcomed the increases but said a clear strategy was needed to help those mackerel fishermen whose livelihoods will be destroyed by the reduction in Ireland’s quota.