13th July 2005

“IS&WFO Welcome new Fishing Industry Decommissioning Scheme”

The IS&WFO today welcomed Minister Pat "The Cope" Gallagher’s announcement of a much-improved Decommissioning Scheme for the Irish whitefish fleet. According to Jason Whooley, Manager of the IS&WFO "The announcement of this new decommissioning package following recommendations made in Padraic Whites report is of huge significance for the Irish Fishing Industry and its dependent communities. We had serious reservations about the previous package and the recommendations contained in this report go a long way towards satisfying our concerns. We wanted a Decommissioning Scheme with sufficient funding to make a real impact on rationalising the Industry. The €45 million should ensure that around 25% of the whitefish fleet is decommissioned, which is what we were looking for. It should also ensure that fishermen remaining in the industry will have improved quotas and a more viable future"

"We were also concerned that a bidding system to set the price of tonnage would make the Scheme unattractive and we welcome the fact that Mr. Whites report has recommended that a bidding system is not used. However, "the devil is in the detail", as the amount of money offered for tonnage will have to be above market value in order to make the Scheme attractive. We are pleased that Padraic Whites report recommended that the maximum EU ceiling price for tonnage is used and we believe that this will be necessary to ensure maximum take up."

Mr Whooley continued "We would like to extend our congratulations to Minister Pat "the Cope" Gallagher and to his officials, Mr. Padraic White and BIM for addressing our concerns and coming up with a positive announcement within such a short time frame".