Fishing hardship scheme ‘is not working’

Just 151 out of 1,800 fishermen hit by last winter’s storms have taken up the Government’s package, branding it far less effective than a scheme introduced in the North.

Extreme weather conditions has cost the fishing industry more than €40m and hundreds of fishermen are still not back to work because of damaged boats and lost gear.

Many face financial ruin, bankruptcy and the dole, the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine heard yesterday, amid calls for Marine Minister Simon Coveney to introduce an effective compensation scheme for fishing families in distress.

The committee heard that the lost gear replacement scheme was unworkable as it demanded up-front payments from fishermen who had lost months of work and were living on credit.

“We experienced one of the worst winters in a long time,” Sean O’Donoghue of the Federation of Irish Fishermen told the committee.

“Because of this, fishermen were unable to go to sea for three months. Even the bigger vessels only managed up to five days in that period.

“Minister Coveney’s very limited pot replacement scheme has only had an uptake of 151 fishermen out of 1,800.

“It is very difficult for small-scale fishermen to buy replacement pots because they don’t have the financial wherewithal,” he added.

Mr O’Donoghue said authorities in the North and elsewhere in the UK had put in place a proper rescue package that gave funds to fishermen to replace lost gear.

In contrast, the response of the Government to the fishing community’s plight was “very mean”. The federation chairman said EU maritime and fishermen’s funds should also be used to help an industry in peril.

“If we don’t do something, a significant number of vessels will have no option but to go bankrupt. We have not got an adequate response from the minister.”

Mr O’Donoghue’s view was echoed by representatives of a number of fishing organisations, among them Micheál Ó Catháin of Iascaraí Coiste an Óir, and Aidan Scallan of South Wexford Lobster Company.

“Our members have not earned any money since last November,” said Mr Scallan. “We cannot afford to put 100% capital up-front so we are not eligible for the scheme and the 40% claim-back is not sufficient.

“A lot of our boats have not earned any money since last October.

“Most of our members are living on credit, with assistance from family and friends and we are up to our eyes in debt with the banks. Without assistance, our members will end up on the dole queues.”

Eamon Ó Corcora, of Iascairí Intíre Cois Cladach na hÉireann, which represents 4,500 fishermen with boats less than 10 metres long, said many may not survive without assistance.

“For 87 days from the 27th of November, many of the boats were tied up,” he said, lamenting the lack of Government support.

“You would wonder what interest they have in the 4,500 people involved in the inshore sector.”