Cruel catch cuts - EU fishery talks

Ireland’s commercial fishermen will watch talks at the EU fish quota council, which begin today, with a mixture of alarm and despair.

Cuts of up to 64% have been proposed in key whitefish stocks for the Irish fleet. These suggestions have been described as “Alice in Wonderland fisheries management” by some of those involved. Allied to the fact that the New Year’s Day introduction of the first phase of a fish discard ban for the pelagic fleet is also in disarray, it adds to the impression that the sector is in something approaching dysfunction.

Federation of Irish Fishermen chairman Seán O’Donoghue said the 64% cuts would translate into 600 job losses in the industry, a very difficult situation that even the largest mackerel allocation in over two decades would not prevent.

Even if commercial fishing is sometimes seen as irresponsible and indifferent to environmental concerns, these figures suggest a sector that should be one of the drivers of our economy is being limited, in an unreasonable way, while others reap the rich harvests off our shores.