Ireland

Irish fishermen angered by ban on whitefish catch

Irish fishermen have reacted angrily to a Government ban on harvesting four key whitefish species and will today begin a campaign…

Paul Anderson
Tue Dec 10 2002 - 00:00

Irish fishermen have reacted angrily to a Government ban on harvesting four key whitefish species and will today begin a campaign to save their industry.

An order issued by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Ahern, yesterday will halt all fishing for monkfish, prawns, megrims and white pollack by Irish vessels from tomorrow.

The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Ahern who issued a ban on harvesting four key fish stocks from midnight.

It will affect up to 90 per cent of the Irish whitefish fleet.

A Department spokesman said the quota had been exhausted and this was "not unusual for this time of year". The industry was well aware of the situation, he added.

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However, the Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation claimed the Minister had dealt a "devastating blow" to the industry and accused him of failing to manage the fishery properly.

Fishing vessels from other EU countries, which have much larger quotas than Ireland, will still be allowed to fish for the species in Irish waters.

Industry leaders are meeting in Dublin today to announce a plan of action ahead of the EU summit in Copenhagen and next week's final EU fisheries council in Brussels.

At the last meeting of fisheries ministers two weeks ago, cuts of 80 per cent in cod and haddock catches and 75 per cent for whiting in EU fishing areas were announced.

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Minister has dealt a "devastating blow" to the [fishing] industry
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The Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation

Euroepan Commission scientists say an outright ban is the only way to avoid the collapse of whitefish stocks, but the Commission said it has a social duty to protect communities dependent on fishing for their livelihood.

Mr Tommy Broughan, Labour spokesperson on communications, marine and natural resources, said the ban was "ludicrous" because fishermen form other states could continue harvesting whitefish in Irish waters.

His Fine Gael counterpart, Mr Simon Coveney, said the EU quota system was "hopelessly inadequate" and urged the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, to take up the matter at the EU summit in Copenhagen which begins on Friday.

"If the Irish fishing fleet is to have growth and a viable future, this Government must negotiate a better deal of the EU quota shareout," Mr Coveney said.