Fishing industry demands fair deal
The industry’s message to Marine Minister Dermot Ahern is, simply, “no deal is better than a bad deal”.
Fishing ports throughout the country came to a standstill yesterday in a protest by the industry. Local businesses closed down and rural communities, such as farmer groups, joined thousands of seafood industry workers in peaceful demonstrations.
The chief executive of Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation, Sean O’Donoghue said the industry sends a warning to other EU member states that Ireland was going to stand up for its rights.
He was backed by Jason Whooley, manager of the Irish South and West Fish Producers, who said Irish fishermen and processors will step up their campaign of action to demand a fundamental reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.
From Donegal to Cork and Waterford, from Galway to Dublin and Louth, fishermen held port protests yesterday. They jeered as an open letter to fishermen from Commissioner Franz Fischler claimed it was ridiculous to accuse the EU of wanting to destroy jobs and scrap boats.
However, Mr Fischler did concede that it was impossible to explain why Irish fishermen were being stung with a 12,700 fine for illegal fishing while the same offence in Finland was an 84 penalty. “This state of affairs must change,” he suggested.
Fishermen warned, however, that the industry will take its protest to Dublin and Brussels if Ireland is not given an improved deal. Ireland, with 11% of EU fishing waters has only 5% of the EU quota.
Multi-million euro trawlers lay idle yesterday as most of the Irish fleet, by order of the minister on the directions of the EU, remains port-bound until January 1 as the industry has reached its whitefish quota.
Fishermen were further infuriated as the ban did not apply to major fisheries, such as the Irish Box, where the French and Spanish, who enjoy the larger slice of the quota cake, are continuing to plunder the stocks.
In the country’s top ports, such as Killybegs and Castletownbere, supermarkets and local businesses closed in a show of solidarity. Elsewhere, farmers rowed in behind the fishermen with Munster vice-president of the IFA, Donal Kelly pledging support.
Demanding an end to the discrimination against the industry, Castletownbere Fishermen’s Co-op manager John Nolan said that 25,000 Irish families directly depend on fishing.
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern raised his concerns over Spanish fishermen being allowed into the Irish box during the EU summit in Copenhagen yesterday.
His action was in advance of next week’s marathon four-day meeting of fish ministers faced with 80% cuts in cod and hake fishing and up to 50% in other species.
The Spanish and Portuguese say that under the terms of their accession agreement they have access to the Irish and Shetland boxes from January.
They are supported by the European Council and the European Commission who say their legal opinion says they cannot discriminate against fishermen from the two countries.
However, Mr Ahern disputes this and says his legal advice is they have no such right. “We will contest this all along the way,” he said yesterday.
The Taoiseach met his Spanish counterpart, Jose Maria Aznar and had private meetings also with European Commission president Romano Prodi and Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Danish prime minister who holds the EU presidency.
Earlier this week when the commission unveiled its plan for the total amount of the various species EU fishermen would be allowed fish, they warned that if countries did not agree then the most sensitive waters would be shut down completely.
Scientists have said cod in particular is nearing extinction and called for a total moratorium. However, Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler says he is willing to settle for an 80% reduction in cod, hake and whiting and up to 50% in most other white fish.
