High fuel costs and EU bureaucracy are destroying the livelihoods of fishermen on English-speaking islands around the Irish coastline, according to an analysis just published.
The authors of the survey, Cloona Consultants, who were commissioned by Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann, say that, relative to the Gaeltacht islands, there is a perception English-speaking islands are neglected.
Fears have been expressed also by the authors about the potential effect of global warming on fishing and the islands generally.
"Anecdotally, it can be said that winters are becoming increasingly more violent and new species of fish are appearing while old ones are declining."
Fishermen were invited to submit what they deemed to be the main industry problems. Some 50 surveys were sent out and 29 returned. There was a strong response, highlighting the fears and concerns of islanders for their communities and enterprises.
Transport costs are escalating due to high fuel prices. In most cases, islanders are remote from the market and this added significantly to the costs.
The main issues affecting inshore fishermen were the enforcement of licensed boats and shellfish landing sizes; the high price of landing gear and fuel VAT at 21 per cent; the marketing of under-exploited species such as mackerel and squid; and the need for a restriction of effort on lobsters, shrimp and crab due to increased numbers of boats turning to these fisheries.
According to fishermen, tidal piers restrict landing and disembarking and are also a safety concern. All piers in inner Clew Bay are tidal.
According to Donal O'Shea, development manager on Clare Island, bureaucracy from Europe is destroying the livelihoods of island fishermen combined with rising fuel prices.
"Factory trawlers have bled the sea," he said. "Not alone are the people losing their livelihoods, but the country is losing a tradition that has been there since biblical times."