Bass stocks face annihilation as FIF seek u-turn

ANGLERS and conservationists are mounting strong opposition to moves to change a law that has imposed a complete ban on commercial fishing for sea bass over the past 20 years.

Last May the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF), which represents four major fish producer organisations, lodged a proposal with the then Fisheries Minister Tony Killeen to amend the current bass protection legislation. Commercial fishermen want to be allowed land sea bass caught in offshore waters in Irish ports. The 1990 ban was brought in to conserve stocks that had fallen to dramatically low levels, but the FIF now says stocks have improved sufficiently to enable commercial exploitation of bass to resume.

Just like his predecessor, new Fisheries Minister Sean Connick will come under pressure from FIF and those in favour of retaining the ban.