Quick buck fishing won’t make Ireland rich

It was with great interest I read the opinion piece by Donal Buckley (Agri-business, Apr 8).

Mr Buckley, Business Development Manager at Bord Iascaigh Mhara, argues for a few large businesses with turnover in excess of €50m to dominate the seafood sector, stating there are too many companies in the middle ground.

To suggest such an economic model is madness.

Historically, Ireland’s coastal and island communities have been sustained by small family-owned businesses.

To discourage these, and instead sell off Ireland’s seafood resources to the highest bidder could have serious consequences for these local economies and their cultural heritage.

The question should be how can Ireland develop the seafood sector sustainably, while also supporting coastal communities and existing locally owned businesses?

For it is these that make Ireland rich, not lining a few shareholders’ pockets.

Kieran O’Shea

Save Bantry Bay

Adrigole

Co Cork