Irish fishing organisations unite to drive change

Five Irish fishing producing and processing organisations have come together to demand change at national and EU level.

In a joint statement, issued after a full day’s collaboration in Dublin, the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO), Irish Fish Producers’ Organisation (IFPO), Irish South and West Fish Producers’ Organisation, Irish South and East Fish Producers’ Organisation and Irish Fish Processors’ and Exporters’ Association (IFPEA) said: “We aim to enhance our collective effectiveness as sectoral representatives by presenting a united front.

“Our objective is to work together on raising awareness of critical challenges impacting the sector at both national and EU level.”

Association CEOs Aodh O Donnell, Brendan Byrne, Patrick Murphy, John Lynch and Dominic Rihan at the launch of their new united approach to advocating for the Irish fishing industry.

Aodh O Donnell, CEO of the IFPO, said: “Together, we can start a comprehensive wide-ranging industry engagement. It is heartening to have cohesion and commitment to a plan that will strategically drive us forward.

“The situation is changing rapidly. We each have a responsibility to mediate, and to deliver better outcomes on a shared basis for our sector that is at a critical juncture. The work plan we agreed prioritises the re-establishing of an effective liaison process with the marine minister and his department officials.”

Brendan Byrne, CEO of the IFPEA, explained: “A key outcome is a consensus agreement on the challenges we face post-Brexit, and the need to radically reform the Common Fisheries Policy. The support of the minister and his team will be key to developing a strategic approach.”

“The Irish fishing industry has been dealt a hammer blow by Brexit on top of the CFP, which is now outdated,” added Dominic Rihan, CEO of the KFO. “This systematic engagement will help to drive and deliver positive change, but is reliant on proactive engagement at national and EU level.”

This story was taken from the latest issue of Fishing News. For more up-to-date and in-depth reports on the UK and Irish commercial fishing sector, subscribe to Fishing News here or buy the latest single issue for just £3.30 here.

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