Irish fishermen believe the European Commission's policy on conservation is really about votes and politics, writes Lorna Siggins, Marine Correspondent

"They must think we are right idiots." Aran islander, Pat Fitzpatrick, doesn't mince words in relation to the European Commission's handling of fisheries management in Community waters. "They talk to us about conservation, but these deals are just about votes and politics - nothing more, nothing less."

Mr Fitzpatrick, skipper of the 90-foot Shauna Ann, was reflecting the mood this week in the Connemara harbour of Rossaveal as the controversy raged over the future of the Irish Box. The harbour's fleet of 30 vessels recognised the reality of life in the 50-mile exclusion zone, where some 70 per cent of fishing effort in Irish waters has been concentrated over the past decade.

Mr Fitzpatrick is one of several Aran skippers still living on the islands, while eight colleagues have moved to Rossaveal in Connemara in recent years to avail of deep-water sheltered berths. The purpose-built fishery harbour in a Gaeltacht area of south-west Galway accounts for about €9 million in landings annually and local boats employ about 200 people in a catchment area where economic opportunities are limited.

The fleet supports an additional 700 jobs, according to a study undertaken by the Marine Institute.

The whitefish fleet depends largely on prawns, while pelagic (mackerel and herring) vessels also work out of the harbour.

A Marine Institute study by Mr David Meredith noted in 1999 that the overall profitability of the fleet was declining, and fishermen were spending more time at sea, using more gear, diversifying into alternative fisheries, adopting new technologies and buying newer,larger, more powerful vessels as a response to this. The study noted that, in relative terms, fishermen were earning less per hour fished than five years before, and retaining crews was a problem.

Rossaveal is also used by two ferry companies serving the Aran islands and has become increasingly congested - with anything up to eight French/ Spanish vessels landing to truck fresh fish to Spain.

Recently, the harbour master was forced to introduce restrictions on larger vessels for health and safety reasons. There are constant groundings and some vessels have been damaged during berthing.

During Mr Frank Fahey's term as marine minister, Rossaveal was earmarked for development in a €29 million project but this has been put on hold under recent budgetary cutbacks. Some €2 million has been spent on site investigation and planning permission, but a sum of €8 million sanctioned this year for dredging has not been used up - pending the project's future.

Over three years ago, Mr Fitzpatrick, then chairman of the Galway and Aran Fishermen's Co-op, took the gamble of his life when he signed a contract for a €2.5 million new vessel. The 27-metre Shauna Ann, built in Spain, was delivered in 2000.

Mr Fitzpatrick was one of several successful Galway applicants under the Government's whitefish renewal scheme, aimed at improving safety and exploiting new opportunities.

Back then, quota stocks in the "Box" were already under severe pressure, with hake showing serious signs of decline. An official limit of 40 Spanish vessels in the zone could multiply three times over when flagships fishing off other quotas were taken into account.

However, the renewal scheme aimed to change the profile of the Irish fleet from one that largely hugged the coast, with vessels of 15 metres and under in the majority. By establishing track records in species not yet subject to quota, it was believed that Ireland could carve out a better share of the Common Fisheries Policy.

Three years on and Mr Fitzpatrick is not completely despondent, but says the future does look bleak. "We had one year of deep-water opportunities, and then the Commission slaps quotas on under political pressure from France. Every time Ireland tries to look for an alternative, new restrictions are found.

"This time last year, we were selling fish at £3 a kilo, but now we are getting €3 a kilo, and there's not a damn thing we can do."

He has no choice but to make his vessel, with its crew of 10, pay its way.

"You get very fed up with the antics though. A couple of years ago, we agreed to increasing mesh sizes and closing spawning areas, and then the Commission decides to reduce the minimum size for megrims [a type of white fish]. It doesn't give a sh** about conservation."

If he was living in Iceland or Norway - where fishing's political influence far outweighs its overall contribution in economic terms, and management regimes are strictly enforced - Mr Fitzpatrick would have a very different life. Or even Spain. "Spain gives the political backing that we give to agriculture, and so it gets its way.

"The Commission talks about equal access, but what good is it to us if we get more access to the Spanish coast, when it is completely fished out?"