Leaders urge fishermen to vote Yes to Nice Treaty

DESPITE cuts in fish quotas, fishermen were urged yesterday by industry leaders to support the Nice Treaty.

Sean O’Donoghue who heads Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation and Jason Whooley, manager of the Castletownbere-based ISWFPO, said the decision to seek a Yes vote was based on months’ of deliberations.

Support of the Nice Treaty, they said, would strengthen Ireland’s hand in negotiations on reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Both men acknowledged there was total disillusionment in the Irish fishing industry with the Common Fisheries Policy.

In a joint statement, they said a fundamental reform of the CFP was urgently required to address and remedy the inequalities in the CFP towards the industry in Ireland.

However, they said given the performance to date of new marine minister Dermot Ahern, the industry had full confidence the Irish delegation would deliver on key priorities in the forthcoming review of the CFP which would ensure a sustainable Irish fishing industry.

Since retaking office Mr Ahern restated the Government’s commitment for fundamental reform of the CFP.

“It’s in this context and in the interest of the fishing industry we have advocated a Yes vote,” they said.

Discussions on the commission’s proposed reforms of the CFP continued in Luxembourg with the policy review due to be completed by december.

Industry representatives hoped to meet EU Commissioner Franz Fischler ahead of the Luxembourg talks but his visit to Ireland was cancelled.

Mr Whooley, manager of the Irish South and West Fish Producer’s Organisation, conceded yesterday it would be difficult for some fishermen to vote Yes.

“There have been a number of casualties with people being forced to quit fishing,” he said. “However, I believe if some of the Irish proposals on technical conservation measures are adopted for the revised CFP, fishing will have a bright future.”