Today is ‘D-Day’ for the Irish fishing industry according to Minister for the Marine Mr Frank Fahey with the European Commission expected to demand a new round of huge cuts in fishing in Brussels today.
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EU Fisheries Commissioner Mr Franz Fischler. Photograph: Reuters.
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In what is mooted as the toughest Fisheries Council in years the Commission is seeking cuts of up to 60 per cent in next year's catch quotas - coupled with decommissioning of vessels and a cut in the number of fishing days at sea.
The Commission said there was no alternative if rapidly dwindling stocks of all major fish species were to be revived.
The warning has been delivered many times before but EU fisheries ministers will be told that this time failure to accept drastic measures will mean the virtual end of fishing for staple species such as cod and hake.
The Commission is calling for a 52 per cent drop in haddock catches in the Irish Sea, a 20 per cent fall in permitted plaice catches off the west of Scotland and 10 per cent reductions in cod catches in the Irish Sea. Major cuts in cod fishing in the North Sea will also be urged.
Fisheries Commissioner Mr Franz Fischler will tell ministers the "alarming" state of fish stocks leaves no option - and he will warn against any haggling to force up national quotas beyond the agreed scientifically sustainable levels of stocks.
However Minister Fahey said no industry could cope with cuts of such size it its resource base in one year.
"We accept soundly based scientific advice and where cuts are necessary to preserve stocks we must act responsibly. Nevertheless the Commission’s proposals go beyond what the scientists are advising and I will make that point forcibly to Commissioner Fischler and to my European colleagues," he said.
"Cutting quotas is a blunt instrument which hurts member states with small quotas most. Ireland has been to the forefront in pushing for introduction of more sustainable fisheries conservation methods such as recovery plans for certain stocks, seasonal closure of spawning grounds and gear modifications to allow more juvenile fish to escape."
PA