Fish package ‘a necessary evil’

A NEW whitefish conservation package, to be announced within days, could lead to the voluntary decommissioning of up to 120 Irish trawlers.

Chief executive of the Irish South and West Fishermen’s Organisation Gerard O’Flynn said the proposed measure was “a necessary evil”.

The EU-backed compensation scheme will top €66 million with about €58m earmarked specifically for trawlers over 18 metres.

Mr O’Flynn said: “My preference, and that of the industry, is increased quotas. But we have to be pragmatic and, in the short-term, we have to decrease landing capacity. Everybody accepts there is a need for reform.”

The package, one of three initiatives in the last 15 years to safeguard certain species, was described as Mr O’Flynn as a “new beginning” for the industry.

Decommissioning, he said, had been a key recommendation of the Cawley Report, which the Government used to push the EU for financial support.

The proposed package is also believed to include about €3m (to be announced at a later date) for crew compensation. Up to one-third of the whitefish fleet could be scaled down as a result of the scheme. The whitefish trawlers are based primarily in the south and western seaboards along with pockets in the east.

Mr O’Flynn dismissed suggestions that the average pay-out for vessel owners in the new package would be in the region of €500,000.

Sean O’Donoghue, chairman of the Federation of Irish Fishermen, said the deal would be welcomed by fishermen. “The aim of the decommissioning is to stop too many boats chasing too few fish. On a yearly basis, it will reduce the landing of around 11,000 tonnes of whitefish such as cod, haddock, whiting and plaice.”

He said, at least 1,500 crewmen could be affected by the package.

“Currently there are between 6,000 and 8,000 fishermen working on the whitefish fleet and this measure would affect between 1,500 and 2,000 of them. “Crew members are not entitled to direct compensation, but would have the option of seeking work on the remaining vessels or taking part in community projects and diversification schemes financed under the new measures,” he said.

Fianna Fáil members of the European Parliament said they lobbied EU Marine Commissioner Joe Borg on the issue. It’s expected he will confirm the offer to the Government.

Séan Ó Neachtain, MEP for Ireland West and member of the fisheries committee of the European Parliament, said: “If the commission approves the application, then the fishing fleet in Ireland will match the available fish stocks, and this will ensure that there will be a sustainable and profitable Irish fish industry into the future.”