Politicians must ensure Irish observers cut super trawler quota
We, the group, ‘Stop Super Trawlers on Irish Waters’ would like to welcome the recent statement made by Minister Simon Coveney where he states he is going to “explore” having observers onboard super trawlers.
We would like to further clarify the urgency and need to better police and monitor pelagic freezer ships (super trawlers) while fishing within the Irish economic zone.
It is not because they are big vessels as Minister Coveney states but because they have the capacity to fish 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for many weeks and months during all weather conditions.
We believe it is essential to the future survival of our fish stocks and protected marine life that Irish observers are onboard these vessels to observe by-catch and ensure strict compliance is in order.
It is worth noting that EU regulation 812/2004 refers to the need for an onboard observer to be present, but the regulation is unclear and needs clarification.
We call on Minister Coveney to be diligent when it comes to consistent observers for these vessels and believe it is in the interest of fairness, transparency and good practice that Irish observers are placed onboard while these vessels fish the Irish economic zone.
His statement earlier this week was encouraging news and a great impetus to all who want these super trawlers controlled with stringent regulations, reduced quotas and ultimately out of our waters.
While we understand it when Minister Coveney states that Ireland cannot ban super trawlers as Australia, East coast America and West Africa have done, and we know he is correct that this has to be a battle on an EU stage, we expect him and the rest of our politicians to take this up as it is of utmost importance to the Irish people who want change in order to better protect our stocks, marine wildlife and local jobs.
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