Senior figures in the Irish fishing industry have reacted with alarm and anger to the prospect of a deal that would give Icelandic vessels access to Irish waters – and are demanding that the EU backs off from rushing a deal through before Christmas, without industry input or consultation.
‘We fear that this give away of more foreign access to Irish waters is being agreed behind closed doors. There is a lack of clarity and Christmas is upon us, and we are very concerned,’ said Aodh O Donnell, CEO of the Irish Fish Processors Organisation (IFPO).
‘From what we hear, Iceland is in advanced consultation with the EU to grant them access to Irish waters to catch an enormous tonnage of blue whiting. Iceland has a highly developed fishing industry with strong interest by other European states. There is no justice in allocating them rights to fish in our waters.’
He commented that the proposed deal for Iceland to fish blue whiting in Irish waters would benefit Iceland to the value of €22.5 million – with no reciprocal benefit for Ireland.
‘The EU already threw Ireland under the bus when it came to the Brexit as we took the hardest hits. As a result of that disastrous transfer of Irish fishing quotas to the UK, Ireland has decommissioned 39 vessels and downsized our national fleet. Now, we find ourselves again in an unbelievable situation in granting a third country access while Ireland’s small fleet and onshore factories struggle with reduced fishing quotas. It’s time to ask serious questions about the EU’s attitude to Ireland and our fishing industry. Why are they now considering that Ireland takes the hit again?’
He stated that Ireland will not stand by and watch maritime resources being handed to another non-EU country – warning that Iceland is growing the scale and scope of its fisheries while Ireland is passively allowing its industry to continue its terminal decline.
‘We fail to understand why our Minister and his officials are hastening an agenda driven by the EU Commission and to the benefit of an Iceland as a non-EU member. Why have we not learned lessons from the past?’ he said, adding that fishing industry representatives fear another sell-out, as they state has already happened with Norway and the UK, and are appealing to the EU to refuse Iceland’s request.
