Proposed fishing quota cuts shows EU Fisheries Council 'are shafting us'

Mr Collins said the Irish fleet had been reduced from more than 1,000 boats to the current level of just 140. File photo

Proposals from the EU Fisheries Council that Irish fishing quotas are cut by 57,000 tonnes in 2026 could destroy the industry, according to Bantry-based Independent Ireland councillor Danny Collins.

Mr Collins requested a suspension of standing orders at the recent meeting of Cork County Council’s Western Committee to discuss the issue.

He said the fishing industry in Ireland had taken “hit after hit over the decades” and complained that “our representation in Europe is not strong enough”. 

Mr Collins said the Irish fleet had been reduced from more than 1,000 boats to the current level of just 140 and that “basically they are shafting us”. 

Mr Collins said that despite having some of the richest fishing grounds in Europe Irish boats were being forced to turn back while boats from other European countries with larger quotas were able to continue fishing.

He said: “We have boats coming to Castletownbere from Belgium, France, the UK, Spain and Germany” before adding that trucks were “destroying the roads” taking the fish out of the country while fish factories in West Cork were closing because of a lack of fish.

Mr Collins said 2,500 jobs were under threat and if the deal was not averted “our fishing industry is gone”. He urged the council to write to the relevant ministers and the Taoiseach with the aim of taking the matter to the European Court of Justice. 

He added: “Sometimes you wonder are we better with them or without them?” 

Supporting the motion Fine Gael councillor Caroline Cronin said: “This is an extremely serious, deeply worrying and unjust situation. We have access to some of the best fishing grounds in the world, we’ve always been the envy of Europe and yet we’re left with the smallest quota.

“No compensation can replace the loss of our fishing industry. Nobody here in Ireland is happy with what happened last week in Brussels. What we need now is a national response for the loss of our fish quotas. This massive loss will ripple through the entire industry, affecting all our fishing communities.

“The current situation is Irish boats steam out to the fishing ground, where they are surrounded by hundreds of European vessels, but the Irish boats must turn back as soon as they reach their quota, while European boats can fish on because they have so much quota they can’t even use it all. 

"How is this acceptable? We must find a way to reclaim our fishing rights. It’s upsetting for fishing families on the run-up to Christmas, just another huge blow to an industry that’s already so bleak. 

"All these boats have massive repayments and to see them tied up will be soul destroying. From a fishing perspective it feels like Europe wants to see the back of our fishing industry here in Ireland and we can’t sit back and let this happen.” 

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.