Hopes high for decommissioning of trawlers

THE Irish Government hopes that the EU Commission will give it the go-ahead to begin decommissioning almost half of Ireland’s largest white-fleet trawlers as part of a €66 million scheme.

Two of the country’s MEPs, Fianna Fáil’s Seán Ó Neachtain and Brian Crowley, will meet Marine Commissioner Joe Burg in Brussels today to press for the scheme to be implemented as soon as possible.

As part of a Europe-wide effort to protect endangered species of white fish, the Commission has asked all Governments to present plans to meet quotas, including the reduction of fleets.

Following the publication of the Cawley report, the Government introduced a scheme that would reduce the Irish whitefish fleet by 33% in total.

However, the scheme would have its biggest impact on the larger white fish super-trawlers, some 47% of which would be put out of action.

The scheme is the latest in a series of decommissioning schemes in recent years, as the fleet has been reduced in order to meet restrictive quotas.

It has won the support of fishing organisations. To underline that, Mr Ó Neachtain and Mr Crowley will be accompanied to today’s meeting with Mr Borg by Lorcan Ó Cinnéide of the Fishing Federation of Ireland; Sean O’Donoghue of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation, Gerald O’Flynn on the South and West Fishermen’s Organisation and Michael Walsh of the South and East Fishermen’s Organisation.

The Government’s formal application to the commission is imminent.

Said Mr Ó Neachtain: “The European Commission must support the programme to modernise the Irish fishing sector and it must give the go-ahead to allow the Irish Government give Irish fishermen €66 million for the de-commissioning of one third of the Irish whitefish fleet.”

Among the species of white fish that will be included in the scheme are cod, haddock, plaice, monkfish and sole.

Yesterday the Department of the Marine, now moving under the remit of Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan, said that the Commission had invited restructuring plans from al member states.

A spokesman said that the Irish scheme was still awaiting approval from the Commission and that the delegation was meeting Mr Borg in an effort to expedite that process.

“There has been good take up and previous schemes have been successful.

“It is needed so that we can modernise and ensure that the Irish fishing industry can fish on a sustainable basis,” said the spokesman.