Government refuses to issue fishing licences

THE government is standing firm on a decision not to issue licences to new fishing boats pending an EU review on fleet management.

As a new, €6 million, unlicensed vessel remains strapped to the pier in Castletownbere, Co Cork, the industry yesterday demanded intervention by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Tánaiste Mary Harney in the crux.

However, Marine Minister Dermot Ahern said sweeping new EU proposals on fisheries management means Ireland will have to “review and amend significantly” its national fleet policy, including a possible fleet cut.

With this in mind, his department insisted it would be inappropriate to grant any new licences until EU policies are finalised. However, fishermen in the South-West claimed the Department renewed six temporary licences to new vessels in the North-West last week.

Jason Whooley of the Irish South and West Fisherman’s Organisation said an interim solution was required. “Fishing is an indigenous industry with renewable natural resources and we should be doing somersaults to see individuals investing upwards of 10m in the industry,” he said. “The Taoiseach intervened in an individual case last year to ensure a licence for a new vessel. We are awaiting with interest both his response and that of the Tánaiste to the present crux.”

“We are not looking for anyone to walk a tightrope on the licensing issue but we are seeking an interim solution.

The first of a number of planned new vessels for the Irish fleet, the ultra-modern, 35-metre Sarah David, sailed into its home port of Castletownbere at the weekend amid the licensing storm. Father-and-son partnership Neilie Minihane and 25-year-old skipper son David, said they can’t afford to wait until the late autumn or so for the licensing dilemma to be resolved.

Commissioner Franz Fischler, meanwhile, is determined to substantially overhaul the catch capacity of the European fleet to prevent over-fishing. However, the EU Management Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture failed to achieve a qualified majority on a draft regulation dealing with fisheries management proposals. Ireland supported the proposed regulation on the basis of a compromise reached and commitments given which the minister claimed would have addressed concerns to a significant extent.

Countries such as Spain, seeking a dramatic increase in their fleet, voted against the proposed regulation.