Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO) chief executive Seán O’Donoghue has stated that this year’s Council of Fisheries Ministers, which has already begun in Brussels, looks to be a repeat of what he called last year’s charade.
He commented that the industry is facing complex and serious challenges, but is doomed to securing little or nothing from the talks since the real decisions affecting Irish fisheries for 2023 and beyond, are being taken at separate negotiations between the EU and UK.
‘As happened last year, the Commission is likely to propose provisional TACs and quota figures for next year. This is totally unsatisfactory and caused a major problem for our fishing sector last year with the final figures published three months into the year. Anticipating a recurrence of this major problem, we implored the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries to find a legal avenue to avoid the same scenario this time around since no industry can survive on this uncertainty,’ he said.
‘Britain cannot be allowed to effectively dictate the pace and if they can’t reach agreement with the EU ahead of our Council concluding, we must be nimble and flexible enough to transpose whatever the outcome of their talks delivers with effect from January 1st rather than working with these unsatisfactory provisional quotas. It’s unacceptable that just because they cut a deal after Council has finished, the EU cannot make the outcome of those talks apply at the start of 2023.’
The KFO is also highlighting the important issue of the Danish mackerel quota in Norwegian waters, which comes from western waters mackerel stock as well as underlining the significant increase of 81% in the blue whiting TAC for next year.
‘Given the proximity of Ireland to the main fishing grounds of this stock, landings into Ireland are attractive for foreign vessels. It is therefore of critical importance that any transfer to Norway in the ongoing EU/ Norway negotiations is kept at a very low level and that access to the Irish Box is paid for by the transfer of blue whiting quota,’ he said.
‘Furthermore last year, I requested immediate action by the Minister and the Commission to urge Norway and the Faroe Islands to stop the massive overfishing of mackerel in the Northeast Atlantic which is jeopardising the sustainable management of the stock. It is critical that the Council of Ministers act decisively against this irresponsible and reckless behaviour.’
Seán O’Donoghue commented that as in previous years, after the usual battles relating to The Hague Preferences, which see Ireland getting elevated quotas for a number of key species, will be delivered but on the whole, ‘this recurring charade is becoming tiresome and delivering little for an already beleaguered industry’ he said.
