Trawler industry to lobby Brussels

THE new chairman of the Federation of Irish Fishermen is flying to Brussels next week in the hope of persuading the EU Council of Ministers to adopt emergency measures to safeguard the future of Irish trawlers.

Gerard O’Flynn, a former commander in the Irish Navy, from Bandon, Co Cork, has been elected chairman of the federation, which represents about 300 trawler-owners nationwide.

Mr O’Flynn& met with the Taoiseach Brian Cowen midweek to discuss the crisis in the industry.

He told Mr Cowen he was disappointed with the slow implementation of the Government-approved Cawley Report on a seafood strategy, emphasising the delay in implementation was a major contributor to the current crisis.

The Cawley Report recommended that a number of vessels should be decommissioned through a pay-off scheme.

The forthcoming meeting of the Council of Ministers in Brussels is set to discuss proposals for temporary “tie-up” aid, which would lead to a smaller number of boats fishing Irish waters with larger catches for each under the quota system.

Other items on the agenda include long-term restructuring of the industry, and market support measures.

Mr O’Flynn stressed the importance of these talks and the urgency of delivering a meaningful package of measures in the immediate short term.