FISHING INDUSTRY representatives have welcomed the fish catch deal secured by Minister for Marine Simon Coveney in Brussels over the weekend, which has been valued at €250 million.
However, the Irish Environmental Pillar has expressed disappointment and has questioned whether scientific advice was “discarded” in the negotiations.
Highlights of the deal include a reopening of the €52 million Irish Sea prawn fishery to the east coast fleet from today, as a result of additional fishing effort entitlements, and a 77 per cent increase in the cod quota in the Celtic Sea.
Celtic Sea haddock and whiting quotas have also increased by 25 per cent and 15 per cent respectively, at an estimated extra value of €3.5 million, and Celtic Sea herring increases by 60 per cent.
The developing new boarfish catch has also been increased by 155 per cent, there has been a 200 per cent extra haddock quota allocation off Donegal, and extra allocations were secured in the summer albacore tuna and spring blue whiting fisheries.
Interim arrangements have been set for mackerel, pending further negotiations with Iceland and the Faeroes – both of which have increased their catches of the migratory stock substantially, amid strong criticism.
Significantly, with just a year to go before a revised EU Common Fisheries Policy is agreed, the Hague Preferences have been retained by Mr Coveney’s team.
Recognised by EU heads of government in 1976, these ensure an additional share of quota for whitefish stocks, but – like Ireland’s corporation tax – come under regular fire from EU partners.
Ireland has the third-largest sea area, and the largest maritime area to land mass, in the EU. The Marine Institute estimates that at least €1.04 billion worth of fish is caught by all states in these waters – with Ireland catching just 17 per cent of this by value, and 21 per cent by tonnage.
Mr Coveney had said at the outset that scientific data from the Marine Institute would back up Ireland’s case this year, but he had to make it clear that he would oppose any move by the European Commission to impose cuts where there was insufficient scientific data analysis for same.
The success of his package was welcomed over the weekend by the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) and the Irish Fishermen’s Organisation (IFO).
IFO chairman Ebbie Sheehan said yesterday it was “a long time since we had such a positive outcome” and Mr Coveney had “done his homework”.
“Now that we have a reasonable increase in quota, we’d like to see a fairer share-out of it at home,” Mr Sheehan added.
FIF chairman Seán O’Donoghue said the outcome for most species was “fortunately a world away from the bizarre initial proposals”.
However, he said the industry could “ill afford” cuts which were imposed on monkfish and megrim, down by 5 and 25 per cent respectively.
The Irish Environmental Pillar’s marine group expressed dismay. Catch allocations for eight species were greater than those recommended by scientists, its convenor Karin Dubsky said.
Dr Ed Fahy, a retired Marine Institute biologist who represented the pillar, said scientific advice was not given “appropriate weight”, with 5 per cent increases in total allowable catches in some stocks compared to this past year’s allocations. He said setting a total allowable catch for cod in the Irish Sea was “disappointing”, as a “zero” catch had been recommended by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea since 2004. The pillar also criticised the reopening of the Irish Sea prawn fishery.
