We should be like Iceland

HAVING recently attended a fishermen’s protest in Dunmore East, I despair at the decline of an industry that could play a much bigger part in our economy.

Irish fishermen go to sea in outdated boats for up to 10 days at a time, for a meagre reward that is diminishing every year. These men face hardship and danger that can only be appreciated by those who have worked in the industry.

Our political elite have added insult to injury over the last 30 years by claiming to have negotiated “a great deal” for Irish fishermen at European level while coastal communities see their livelihoods disappear. At the same time this is happening, state-of-the-art Spanish and French fishing vessels use our ports and work our grounds.

If we compare ourselves to Iceland where fishing is the mainstay of their economy and income per capita is among the highest in the world, we can visualise the way the industry could have developed here.

Oh, what could have been.

Patrick J Fitzgerald,

Leperstown,

Dunmore East,

Co Waterford.