Sir, - Firstly, may I commend you on your editorial about Castletownbere on March 14th. As you know, many coastal regions owe their economic survival to just over 7,700 men. These are the fishermen who fish from Irish communities such as Killybegs, Dingle, Dunmore East, Castletownbere, the Aran Islands.... the list goes on.
These men are finding their jobs harder and harder as the years go by. Irish quotas are being cut, while a further 40 foreign trawlers have been allowed to fish up to 12 miles from our shore since last year. Ireland has 16 per cent of EU waters, and only four per cent of the EU quota.
The fishermen of Ireland have, literally, to watch these technologically more advanced trawlers, which can stay at sea for longer periods of time, catch all the fish. The average age of an Irish trawler is over 20 years and support for the renewal of the Irish fishing fleet is minimal. Ireland has the second oldest fishing fleet in the EU, Denmark being the first.
Not only do they have to endure the increasing hardships of fishing, but they risk their lives every time they go to sea. Yes, I am moaning about the hard deal fishermen get, but someone has to.
They are ignored from a political point of view, while the politicians are the only ones who can do anything about the situation.
A man who devoted his life to fishing died tragically on March 9th. An ordinary businessman earning a living, killed doing his job. Does anyone in the Government realise how much men like these mean to the survival of our coastal regions? Obviously not, as it seem that they are trying to wipe out the Irish fishing fleet, and the regions with it.
How much more do the fishermen and the coastal communities of Ireland have to put up with before the politicians of the land start giving them the respect and the commitment that they deserve? If you knew the facts, I'd assure you that you'd moan too. - Yours, etc,
(A fisherman's daughter),
Castletownbere,
Co Cork.