IN LESS than two years, fishery products will require a certificate that they have been caught legally before they can be imported into the EU, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Brendan Smith told the Dáil.
“This is a major regulation, which has much international focus on its success, and will represent good news for legal fishermen as it will remove illegal products from the market.’’
Mr Smith said Ireland had strongly supported this measure at an EU Council meeting and called on the commission to develop effective labelling schemes so consumers could make an informed choice.
Labour spokesman Willie Penrose said the seafood industry, which was worth up to €800 million, had been suffering significant and devastating consequences.
“In particular, I refer to the impact on the approximately 12,000 people employed in coastal communities.’’
Later, Fine Gael spokesman Michael Creed moved a Private Members’ motion calling on the Government to address long-term issues facing the industry.
These included tackling the challenges from imports of dubious quality because of Irish labelling failures, as well as a uniform and balanced approach to the enforcement of fisheries regulation throughout the EU.
He said the industry required urgent financial assistance.
“Measures arising out of the recent EU Council of Ministers, while welcome, will not deal with the industry’s urgent short-term needs,’’ Mr Creed added.
Tom Sheahan (FG, Kerry South) claimed that 10 times the value of what Ireland had received from the EU had been taken out of Irish waters in fish.
Several hundred fishermen had tied up their boats to attend a meeting in Athlone. “There was a sense of anger and disillusionment among them and their families.’’
Jim O’Keeffe (FG, Cork South West) said fishermen were justifiably resentful about the issue of administrative sanctions.
Mr Smith said the use of administrative sanctions had been the consistent subject of debate and an agenda item for fishermen at all of their meetings with him.
Fishermen argued they were being criminalised by being taken to court for minor offences.
“The sanctions in place apply equally to Irish, Spanish, French or any other operator found to have infringed the rules,’’ he added.
“The actual sanction applied in each case is, in fact, a matter for the judge, taking account of the maximum fine limits set in the legislation.’’
Mr Smith said the regime in place was required to protect fish stocks and the long-term future of coastal communities, and to seek to avoid financial penalties being imposed on the State and the Irish taxpayer.
He added that the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority had confirmed that not all infringements detected were subject to prosecution in the Circuit Court.
