Decommissioning ‘one option to be looked at’ for fishing fleet

Decommissioning of fishing vessels is one of a suite of measures used in recent years to address financial crises and quotas in fishing. Stock picture: Getty

Up to 40% of Ireland’s offshore fishing fleet for white fish could be destroyed under any new State-funded decommissioning scheme, according to fishing industry representatives.

Decommissioning of fishing vessels is one of a suite of measures used in recent years in a bid to address the ongoing financial crises and quotas in fishing.

Further talks are being held by the Food Vision Seafood Sector Group tomorrow to discuss ways to help the ailing sea fishing industry.

Irish Fish Producers Organisation chief executive Aodh O’Donnell said a number of options will be discussed to protect the future of fishing.

“Decommissioning hasn’t been discussed in any great detail,” he said.

“It is one of the options, obviously, to be looked at.”

39 boats decommissioned in 2023

The last decommissioning scheme cost more than €60m and led to 39 white fish fishing boats — which predominantly fish for cod, haddock, whiting, and hake — being destroyed in 2023.

The post-Brexit EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) led to the transfer of a substantial amount of EU fishing quotas to the UK.

However, while Ireland’s quota cut helped the agreement over the line, the deal has made it harder for Irish fishers to earn a living.

Ireland’s fishing industry losses from Brexit have been predicted to amount to around €43m by this year as part of a five-year EU-UK post-Brexit quota “adjustment” phase.

Dominic Rihan, from Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation, said the situation is urgent for the industry. He said: 

More than 2,300 full-time equivalent jobs are at risk without swift intervention. 

Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association chief executive Brendan Byrne said that, while decommissioning had been discussed, he fears what would happen if it is brought back in.

“It’ll be very difficult for any government to introduce another decommissioning scheme so soon after the last one,” he said.

'40% of the fleet could leave' 

“We cannot decommission ourselves out of existence.

“We only have about 140 white fish fishing boats left.

“I fear if there would be a decommissioning scheme, you could see another 40% of the fleet leave because of the difficulty of surviving... That would be a sad day for Ireland.”

Fisheries minister Timmy Dooley, when asked about the prospect of another decommissioning scheme, told the Irish Examiner: “If that is included in submission to the task force, I’m sure it will be considered by the chairman in his recommendation to the Government.

“Any support recommendations identified [by the chair] will be considered by the Government after that.”

Brexit cessation scheme 

Announced in 2021, the Brexit voluntary permanent cessation scheme was designed to help mitigate against reduced quotas and financial losses Irish fishers experienced because of Brexit.

The scheme left just over 140 white fish fishing boats in the fleet, and more decommissioning could leave the fleet with around 84.