Fishermen refuse to rule out further port protests

PROTESTING fishermen last night refused to rule out further blockades of ports next week after an urgent review of the needs of fishing fleets, was announced by Marine Minister Pat “The Cope” Gallagher.

The announcement came in response to the scallop fishers’ demands for a €4.8 million aid package which they say is needed because new EU fishing restrictions will bankrupt many of their members and put them out of business.

However, they said last night that the minister was not addressing the issue with the urgency required.

“It sounds like he’s kicking to touch,” said Irish Fishermen’s Organisation spokesperson Joe Maddock.

He said the fishermen would reconvene this morning to decide how they would react to the announcement.

Mr Gallagher said he had appointed Padraic White, former chief executive of the IDA, to complete the review following talks yesterday between the minister and the Departments of Finance and the Taoiseach.

The review will examine the urgency, scope and cost of the decommissioning requirements for the demersal and shellfish fleets.

Mr Gallagher has asked Mr White to report to him by the end of the month.

“I fully accept the difficulty and hardship that is clearly being experienced in fishing communities around the coast because of declining fish stocks and the impact of conservation measures,” said Mr Gallagher.

Kilmore Quay fishermen in County Wexford had set Thursday as a deadline for a concession on demands for the financial plan but decided to await Mr Gallagher’s response before staging any further protests - such as the blockading of Rosslare Port last Monday.

There were fears the blockade of ports would escalate to Dublin and other major posts next week if the Government did not accede to the scallop fishermen’s demands.

Fish processors have also warned that 500 factory jobs in the Kilmore Quay area of Co Wexford will be lost if the Government does not respond.

New EU regulations are cutting the number of days the scallop fishermen can spend at sea to eight trawling days per month for the rest of the year.

Scallop fishermen say this would seriously endanger their livelihoods unless the Government sanctions the €4.8m rescue package that would allow some fishermen buy their way out of the business.