Taoiseach must protect fishermen
Yesterday, industry interests and fishing communities around the country protested against the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), which they maintain is inimical to their future existence.
It followed a demonstration three days ago by French and Belgian fishermen in Channel ports, which had the backing of their counterparts from Ireland, Britain, Denmark, Italy and the Netherlands.
Obviously, the dissatisfaction felt by fishermen, and the ancillary industries associated with the sector, here is replicated in other EU countries, where the current EU policy is detrimental to their national interests.
The Irish fishing industry has embarked on a campaign which is, it believes, a campaign to save the industry. Implicit in its success is the survival of coastal communities, whose lifeline is the sea.
The decision to keep whitefish vessels in port yesterday was a clear message to the powers-that-be in Brussels that coastal communities will die if jobs at sea and those dependent on then onshore, are jeopardised.
They are in danger because of the small quotas allocated to Irish fishermen and because of the extent of fishing in Irish waters by foreign vessels. The anger of the indigenous industry is understandable, considering that they are banned from fishing four species of whitefish in their own waters, while foreign fleets are still entitled to access them.
An order to that effect was signed this week by the Minister for the Marine, Dermot Aherne, in order to comply with EU regulations, on the basis that they have reached their allowable quotas.
What is a source of justifiable anger to our fishermen is the fact that, while they are obliged to abide by this ban, other EU countries, which have considerably larger quotas, are allowed to fish those species in Irish waters.
Next Monday, negotiations will commence in Brussels which will have a crucial bearing on the fishing industry here. Protracted discussions among the EU fisheries ministers will ultimately determine the allocation of quotas, but will also involve a review of the Common Fisheries Policy.
Inherent in that review is the question of ending State subvention of new fishing vessels, considerable restrictions on cod fishing in the North Sea and the Irish Sea, as well as fleet reductions.
Part of the Programme for Government was a commitment that the Government would press for fundamental reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, with âthe aim of sustainable development, better governance, stakeholdersâ involvement, conservation, stock-building and maximising Irelandâs access to fisheriesâ.
The campaign by Irish fishermen is supported by organisations involved in producing, processing and exporting the product, as well as businesses in coastal communities who depend on the industry.
Any reform has to take into account the social and economic repercussions that may follow, and which could impinge, either adversely or beneficially, on coastal communities.
It is incumbent upon the Government - indeed it is vital - that it delivers on the promise to the fishing industry with a considerably greater degree of sincerity than it has done in other sectors.
