Council warns of job losses in fishing

IBEC'S Marine Food Council has warned of job losses in the Irish fishing industry if the Government applies the EU Commission's "days at sea" system of conservation.

Mr Mick Long, the newly-elected chairman of the council, is seeking a meeting with the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources to express concern at the proposed system, which will apply to the pelagic (mackerel/ herring) fleet.

"We understand the need to ensure a long-term balance between fishing activities and resources, but this decision was taken by Europe in the face of outright opposition by the industry here, given that the problems of over-fishing were not created by Ireland," Mr Long said.

"Individual vessel-owners have been advised of proposed restrictions on the number of days they can put to sea for the remainder of 1998 and for 1999," he said. The Department's formal notice of this on July 30th had met "outright opposition". "Some of the smaller boats are being restricted to about 100 days at sea next year." Scottish pelagic owners, who also oppose days-at-sea restrictions on their activities, say Brussels has been too lax with the Dutch and Irish mackerel fleets, while Irish skippers maintain that Holland, with 69 per cent of the total kilowattage of the EU's fleet, is not complying in any sense with the Common Fisheries Policy.

Mr Long warned of a grave socio-economic impact if Irish vessels were forced to land elsewhere due to EU restrictions. "We want to ensure that Ireland avails of the most viable option in full consultation with the industry," he said.