Safety rules ‘could cost 200 fishery jobs’

SOME 200 workers, including 75 in the south-west, could be forced out of the fishing industry as a result of government regulations designed to improve safety on smaller trawlers.

The Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation (IS&WFPO) Ltd, which represents the owners of many of the whitefish vessels, also said the knock-on effect could threaten up to 600 related onshore jobs.

The new regulation which came into effect on October 1 requires all fishing vessels between 15 and 24 metres to undergo a survey to secure a Fishing Vessel Safety Certificate in order to continue fishing.