Irish election campaign highlights fishing ‘industry in crisis’

Irish fishermen have united in a general election campaign to highlight key issues facing the sector.

The campaign urges voters in the Irish general election ‘to support coastal communities and safeguard our greatest national resource – our fish!’.

The general election, not yet called as FN went to press, is expected to be held in late November.

The coalition of fishing organisations has compiled a voter information flyer and poster, co- ordinated by Skipper editor Niall Duffy.

They ask voters to use them ‘to inform their thinking when being canvassed by candidates from all political parties and independents seeking a vote’.

Copies are being distributed to all constituencies ahead of
the general election, and will be promoted on social media by supporters of the fishing industry and coastal communities.

The campaign lists eight key demands, including ‘stopping the giveaway’ of Ireland’s fish and appointing a dedicated minister for the marine.

Allocation of a ‘fair share’ of fish in Irish waters and extension of the seafarers’ tax allowance to fishermen are also on the list, along with securing the future for coastal communities and seeking a ‘complete renegotiation’ of the CFP.

The list calls for a halt to the ‘criminalisation of fishermen for minor offences’, and appeals for support for the seafood processing sector and onshore jobs.

Irish South and West FPO chief executive Patrick Murphy, representing one of the seven groups, pointed to several recent reports highlighting a sector ‘in crisis’.

“Fishermen aren’t crying wolf – they have the wolf with its teeth dug into their leg,” he said.

“Fish and offshore wind are our two natural resources on this island, but we are squandering the first one as Irish vessels have lost access to quota after Brexit, and the stock is not recovering due to the quotas allocated to non-Irish vessels.

“This is a lucrative industry and a renewable resource if properly managed, and that is what we want to tell the voter.

“And food security is becoming increasingly important. Not only will we have no fishermen, but we will have no fish if the stocks continue to be depleted by other EU member states and third countries like Norway.”

Jerry Early of the Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation, also part of the coalition, said that his members believe appointing a marine minister is ‘key’.

“Whether it is a junior minister or a full minister with access to cabinet, we need this, as the current brief involving agriculture which minister Charlie McConalogue is responsible for is just too large,” Mr Early said.

“Everyone wants more quota, but until we get a dedicated person in political office that is accountable, a lot of that is unachievable.”

Also supporting the campaign are the Irish South and East FPO, the National Inshore Fishermen’s Organisation, the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation, the Irish Fish Producers’ Organisation and the Irish Fish Producers’ and Exporters’ Organisation.

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 £3.50 here.

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