Irish Fishing Organisations Unite in Call for a Fair Deal for Irish Fishing and    

                Announce Protest Day of Action on Friday, 13^th  December, 2002

Hundreds of Irish fishing vessels all around the coast are being recalled to port next Friday, 13th December, as part of a Day of Action in protest at the so-called reforms of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy, due to be decided on in Brussels during the following week.

The Day of Action has been called by a united group of Organisations representing the Fishing Industry and details of the action were announced today at a news conference in Dublin. The Organisations supporting the Day of Action are:

* Irish Fish Producers' Organisation (IFPO)
* Irish Fish Processors and Exporters' Association (IFPEA)
* Irish South & West Fish Producers' Organisation (IS&WFPO)
* Killybegs Fishermens' Organisation (KFO)

The Organisations said the entire Irish fishing fleet was being called ashore on Friday in a dramatic gesture, so that fishing crews could attend major port rallies on their local piers and express their opposition to the current proposals from Brussels.

The protest will begin at exactly 12 Noon.  Among the ports that have already signalled their support for the action are: Greencastle, Killybegs, Rossaveal, Dingle, Castletownbere, Union Hall, Baltimore, Dunmore East, Howth and Clogherhead.  It is expected there will be massive support for the
rallies from the wider local community in each port, including local businesses.

The Organisations involved called on the Government to deliver on its commitment in the Programme for Government that states "The Government will press for fundamental reform of the Common fisheries Policy with the aim of sustainable development, better governance, stakeholders involvement, conservation, stock building and maximising Ireland's access to fisheries".  The Organisations want this commitment followed through on, not only at the Brussels Council of Fisheries Ministers' Meeting next week, but also at the Copenhagen Summit of EU Heads of Government in Copenhagen this coming Thursday.

The Irish Fishing Industry wants no more than 'A Fair Deal for Irish Fishing' and is united around five key issues in the current negotiations:

Quota Allocation

The Irish Fishing Industry is not prepared to accept a quota allocation determined in the 1970's which gives Ireland 5% of the overall Community resources although it has 11% of the overall Community waters. The reform proposals must ensure an enhanced allocation to Ireland.

The Irish Box

The Irish Box is of extreme importance in biological, environmental and conservation terms for both the European and Irish fishing industries. The industry is adamant that the present limits including the
forty vessels restriction on Spain must not only be retained but the Irish Box needs enhanced protection with a further reduction in fishing effort for all member states (including Ireland) in the Irish Box.

Fleet Reduction

The Commissions fleet proposals are flawed and will not achieve the aim of sustainable fish stocks. In Ireland's case the ultimate outcome of the Commission's proposals would mean 40% reduction in the whitefish fleet and the loss of approximately 2,000 jobs working on board fishing vessels. The industry is advocating an alternative policy based on technical conservation measures, closed areas, reduction of discards and strict but even handed enforcement.

Cod Crisis

The Commission is intent on introducing massive 80% total allowable catches and days at sea cuts over a range of species as a way of solving the Cod crisis. The Irish industry is totally opposed to
this method and is putting forward a modified Irish Sea Cod recovery programme which the Commission has fully supported over the last three years as the way forward in achieving Cod sustainability.

Social - Economic & Regional Aspects

The reform proposals must include provision for the sustainability of the coastal peripheral fishing Communities. The one dimensional approach of the Commission's proposals in terms of retraining fishermen and scrapping vessels will destroy fishing Communities. The reform proposals must develop and enhance the fishing Communities and in Ireland's case an extra share of fish resources contiguous to these areas would significantly help in sustaining and developing these Communities

Mr. Lorcán Ó Cinnéide, Irish Fish Producers' Organisation, said “the current share out of fish stocks to Ireland was completely outdated and unfair and was in danger of being perpetuated for decades if the current proposals were not drastically changed.”

Mr. Jason Whooley, Irish South & West Fish Producers' Organisation, said “the Irish Fishing Industry was making a major contribution to national prosperity, with more than 25,000 people employed either directly or indirectly. Recent figures had shown that, for every  €1 Ireland as a whole received from Europe, Irish fishermen had paid back €2 in fishing stocks depleted from our waters.”

Mr. Seán O'Donoghue Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation said “the proposals on the reform of the current fisheries policy posed a major threat to the future of the Irish fishing industry, and if left unchallenged would be the deathnell of the fishing industry and will destroy coastal communities.”


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Further Information:

Jason Whooley, I.S.&.W.F.P.O. Ltd., Mobile:   086 / 2360001