Fishermen make case to commissioner over cuts

IRISH fishermen met the European Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg yesterday as they warned that proposed fishing cuts would threaten many livelihoods.

They disagree with the preliminary proposals to ban white fish fishing off the north-west coast and to cut the prawn quota by 15%.

Mr Borg told them the commission would look very carefully at any proposals from them and from the Government to address their concerns.

He added that they should get their proposals to him as soon as possible so they can be studied ahead of the meeting of fisheries ministers due to start on December 17.

Over three days the ministers will consider the total allowable catch of fish by the entire EU fleet and how it is broken down into quota of specific species for each member state.

After a two-hour meeting, president of the Federation of Irish Fishermen, Gerard O’Flynn, said: “We highlighted the unacceptability of the proposal to ban fishing for cod, haddock and whiting off the north-west coast of Ireland from next January.

“We impressed upon the EU Fisheries Commissioner that proposals to cut the 2009 prawn quota by 15% were completely unnecessary as this stock is recognised to be in a very good state and that these proposals arise from the use of a bizarre rule relating to the averaging of catches.

“Proposals in relation to the fish species of Ray and Skates would impact heavily on some sections of the Irish industry and the proposed quota cuts are unjustified.

“On the pelagic front we highlighted concerns about poor scientific information in relation to NW Herring and the adverse impact on Blue Whiting fishing arising from EU arrangements with Norway”.

Afterwards Sean O Neachtain, a member of the fisheries committee in the European Parliament said, “The reality is that the European Commission plans for the Irish fisheries sector for next year, including the issue of fish quotas are unbalanced and need to be drastically changed”.