The federation has requested Fisheries Minister Tony Killen TD to ensure that planned surveys of Celtic Sea Cod by the Marine Institute are not suspended or deferred. According to FIF all of the preparatory work for these surveys that included testing of equipment and selection of vessels has already been completed. These surveys have assumed an added importance because the European Union is proposing to reduce white fishing activities in near future off the Irish coast in response to the alleged state of cod stocks.
Gerard O Flynn, chairman of FIF, said that the fishermen are intensely frustrated with their observation of a strong showing of cod in the Celtic Sea and a failure to see this experience reflected in scientific reports and decision making in relation to the management of the fishery. It is said that the fishermen have been calling for closer cooperation between scientists and industry to help bridge the gap between real time experience of fishermen and scientific analysis.
It is fact that an interruption of the cod survey programme would be a source of huge frustration. Ironically, data deficiencies are cited by ICES, the international scientific body, as among the reasons for lower quotas. The federation said that poor management decisions as a result are being constantly introduced which result in further fishing restrictions, forcing fishermen to discard perfectly good fish.
The federation assumed an added importance because the European Commission is proposing to impose further restrictions on cod fishing, off the Irish coast. It has welcomed the establishment earlier this year by Minister Tony Killeen of an Industry-Science partnership process, precisely to overcome difficulties such as are now arising.
