Fishermen from around the country have gathered in Dublin today for a protest against high fuel prices and cheap fish imports.
The demonstration, which is taking place outside Dáil Éireann this afternoon, has been called by the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF). The federation is an umbrella organisation representing some 90 per cent of Irish fishing vessels over 12 metres in length.
The FIF wants fleets to be paid not to go to sea as part of a temporary rota-based system regulating commercial fishing as fuel costs soar.
Gerard O’Flynn, a FIF spokesman and chief executive officer of the Irish South and West Fish producers' Organisation, said subsidies were now necessary to avert a mass wipe-out of working trawlers. “Thousands of jobs are threatened if we don’t get through this crisis,” he said.
Mr O’Flynn said unless the European Union introduces subsidies for the industry, similar to those given to farmers and food producers, then huge numbers of fishermen face bankruptcy. The FIF said 50 to 70 per cent of a trawler’s turnover is being spent on fuel.
The organisation also wants stricter controls on the traceability so consumers can see where the fish they are buying was caught.
Last Friday, dozens of fishermen from Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford, handed out free fish on O'Connell Bridge in Dublin to highlight what they see as growing threats to their livelihood.
This week has also seen Irish fishermen tying up their boats in support of a Europe-wide industry protest over fuel costs and other problems which are impacting on the sector.
Yesterday, fishermen from across Europe who were demonstrating against the soaring price of fuel clashed with police near the EU's headquarters in Brussels after a peaceful morning stand-off turned violent.
Hundreds of fishermen, mostly from France and Italy, occupied the district's main avenue and a smaller group set off flares against police, who charged them. Calm was later restored.
EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg has acknowledged that there is a crisis in the fishing industry. Earlier this week he confirmed that there had been a 240 per cent hike in the price of fuel since 2004, but has ruled out fuel subsidies or higher quotas as “false solutions”.
EU leaders are set to discuss the impact of high oil prices on Europe's fisheries sector at a summit on June 23rd.
Additional reporting PA