We are wiping out salmon, but they must stay out of our box
There is a major campaign under way to limit the non-Irish fishing effort in the Irish Box, based on the premise that fish originating in Ireland should principally benefit Ireland.
Contrast this simple premise with the deplorable behaviour of Ireland over drift netting for salmon.
For decades, Ireland has raped this resource without conscience or regret, happily taking salmon originating in many other European countries.
Why is it acceptable for Ireland to destroy the European salmon by its terribly destructive drift netting, but not acceptable for European fishermen to fish the Irish Box?
Both in the whitefish and salmon sectors, stocks are in long term possibly permanent decline. It is only sensible that exploitation should be limited to that which the resource can withstand. Drift netting for salmon has been condemned by every country in the North Atlantic except Ireland, which is now a pariah state as far as salmon are concerned.
So all of the protestations and negotiations in respect of the whitefish stocks in the Irish Box have a hollow ring as long as drift netting for salmon continues. It's time to end this wasteful, destructive practice and give the salmon at least a chance of recovery.
RJ Haughey,
39, Broughton Gardens,
Belfast 6
