Ireland to lose fleet tonnage

IRELAND is set to lose up to a fifth of its fishing fleet tonnage when new regulations are introduced by the EU next year.

Fishermen say any more reductions to the weight of the fishing fleet's vessels would be disastrous for the industry and investors would lose an estimated 100 million because of the new rules.

Emergency talks have been on going in Brussels between the European Commission, the Department of the Marine and fishermen's organisations for the past few weeks.

The final decision on the matter is due to be taken at a meeting on Wednesday in Brussels.

Jason Whooley of the South and West Fishermen's Organisation said they are very concerned.

"This would be a disaster for the Irish fishing industry if it is allowed to happen. We already have a very small share of Europe's fleet and we cannot afford to lose any of it," he said.

New rules as part of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy were agreed last year but the full implications of some of the changes only came to light about two months ago.

The Irish fleet accounts for 2.5% of the total EU tonnage and under the reform each country's tonnage the total weight of their fishing vessels would be set at whatever was registered on January 1, 2003.

However, about a fifth of Ireland's tonnage is deregistered at any one time because fishermen have scrapped vessels but have held onto the tonnage.

The tonnage, because it is strictly limited is valuable, and is traded like pub licences. While fishermen own a certain percentage of this free tonnage, much of it is owned by investors including businessmen, lawyers and doctors.

Fishermen who want to trade up and buy a bigger boat usually scrap their existing vessel and buy extra tonnage from the market.

But under the new regulation this spare tonnage will not exist from next year because each country's tonnage will be set at what was registered at the beginning of the year.

Ireland will not be the biggest loser under the new rules. Spain, which has by far the largest fleet in the EU is set to lose 27% of its tonnage. Denmark will be another big loser.

The difference however, is that the tonnage is owned by the state so there will be no direct financial loss by private investors or fishermen as there will be in Ireland.

The commission is desperate to cut the size of the EU fleet because so many fish stocks, particularly cod and hake, are at a dangerously low level.

A Government spokesperson said it has put a number of proposals to the commission to resolve the problem.

However, the industry pointed out that the big prize for the commission is a cut in the Spanish fleet so it will be reluctant to cut a deal with Ireland in case it would let the Spanish off the hook.

A commission spokesperson said that each country knew about the changes since last year but had only raised the tonnage issue a few weeks ago.

"We appreciate the problems and we are working with the member states to come to a satisfactory resolution," he said.