The European Commission has agreed to reconsider its plans for fishing fleet cuts and cheap herring imports, both of which could have serious implications for the Irish industry.
The move has been welcomed by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Woods, who attended yesterday's EU Fisheries Council in Luxembourg. The Minister said last night he had "stood firm" and ensured the council understood that Ireland was totally opposed to the measures.
The fleet restrictions could have serious consequences for this Government's £70 million whitefish fleet renewal programme.
The commission has proposed that new and modern secondhand vessels be purchased only if 130 per cent of matching tonnage is "scrapped" in exchange, thus ensuring a cap on overall fleet size.
The Minister said the proposal would penalise skippers who wanted to invest in the future of the industry, and frustrate the Government's vessel modernisation programme.
It could also "critically undermine our drive towards improved safety," Dr Woods emphasised. "Young fishing skippers seeking to introduce modern, efficient and safer boats should be encouraged rather than restricted," he said.
A council proposal to allow unlimited quantities of herring imports at severely reduced tariff rates was also deferred. Such a move would exacerbate the present crisis within the herring sector, due to a collapse in prices and markets. The Minister reminded his colleagues that over 70 per cent of herring imports into the EU already benefited from tariff concessions.
He called for stronger control measures, and once again for a programme of observers on vessels in the pelagic or mackerel/herring sector.
