December 21st 2006

“Fisheries Council Outcome Positive Overall ”

The Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) this morning welcomed the final outcome of the difficult two day Fisheries Council in Brussels as being on balance a positive result for Ireland. A spokesman for the FIF team in Brussels for the talks, which comprised Lorcán Ó Cinnéide, Jason Whooley, Michael Walsh and Seán O’Donoghue commented “We had a clear and concerted strategy, based on sustainability, between the organisations which make up the Federation, to resist the level of cuts in key stocks while maximising the increases in others such as Nephrops (+17%) Hake (+15%), Monkfish (+6%) and Haddock off the northwest coast and Rockall (+211%). We also had a clear set of objectives for the other non-quota issues such as days at sea, experimental fishing, control of gillnetting and pelagic weighing arrangements, the results of which are perhaps less satisfactory overall but still with some significant positive outcomes".

Notable achievements are the acceptance by the Council of Irish industry led international conservation projects in the Irish Sea and Celtic Sea which represent we believe the cornerstone of future alternative management of stocks with the collaboration of industry and scientists. The so-called Hague Preferences quota adjustments, which are an integral part of Ireland’s quotas for many years, were deployed successfully, as FIF expected.

FIF notes the net increase of €7 million in value of whitefish quotas available to Irish fishermen and the increase of €7.4 million in pelagics. This however only represents a partial reversal of previous cuts over recent years. While the net result is positive it does not negate the absolute necessity of fundamental restructuring of the industry for its long-term viability, a process FIF will be central to. “Let’s be real. Any cuts in scarce resources are unwelcome for fishermen be they north, south, east or west, large or small. However, FIF feels that this outcome represents a workable platform which can be used to implement major restructuring in the sector in 2007. FIF eagerly await the publication in early January of the Cawley Report commissioned to chart this change and the provision of Government funding required”, said FIF Chairman Lorcán Ó Cinnéide.

FIF is unhappy at any reductions in days at sea - fishing opportunities - for whitefish in the Irish Sea believing these to be a continuation of a misguided approach. This FIF hopes to see redressed under the EU Review of Cod Recovery Plans scheduled for 2007. He added "The cut in Northwest Herring (-10%) is most unwelcome. A 15% cut in the Celtic Sea Herring quota and the failure to amend weighing arrangements will adversely affect four processing plants in the south of the country. The watering down of Irish led proposals to control bogus experimental fishing by some foreign fleets and controls on gillnets is a retrograde step. The 2007 quota of Atlanto-Scandian Herring for Ireland is uncertain owing to the postponement of final talks between the coastal states to mid-January".

FIF wishes to acknowledge the performance of the Irish negotiating team led by Minister Browne which did a creditable job in difficult circumstances. The close co-operation between a unified industry and the negotiating team during the talks was FIF believes, of significant benefit and in sharp contrast to the industry’s less than happy experiences with the Government earlier in 2006.