A “Brexit concession” by the EU to Britain on fish stocks should be extended to all coastal states including Ireland, according to a leading Irish industry organisation.
The Irish South and West Fish Producers’ Organisation (IS&WFPO) says that the EU has created a “new fisheries policy” in accepting the principle of “zonal attachment” in negotiations with Britain.
Minister for Marine Charlie McConalogue has confirmed quota cuts will be imposed for some fish species from April, after a temporary three-month quota rollover ends on March 31st.
He has said the Government is still assessing the fisheries deal and has said the industry will be supported.
Under the Brexit deal, Britain will formally leave the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) after a five-and-a-half-year transition period, during which EU fleets will continue to have access to British waters.
However, the EU share of catches will fall by up to 25 per cent, after which both sides will hold annual negotiations.
The IS&WFPO said Taoiseach Michael Martin and Minister for Marine Charlie McConalogue appeared to support the principle of “zonal attachment” in recent media interviews.
Under “zonal attachment”, the share of stock within a particular coastal state’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) over a year is taken into account in calculating total catches.
Britain had argued strongly for this principle to be accepted by the EU in the final stages of the Brexit negotiations – replacing the existing CFP system based on relative stability.
IS&WFPO chief executive Patrick Murphy said his organisation was calling on the Taoiseach to “treat the fishermen in Irelands EEZ no differently to fishermen in the United Kingdom (including Northern Irish fishermen)”.
Patrick Murphy of the Irish South and West Fish Producers’ Organisation Screenshot via Oireachtas TV
“ Fish in our waters must now also be governed under zonal attachment, and must not be taken from Irish fishermen and given to others, while ignoring the plight of our coastal communities,” he said.
Irish fish stocks should not be “used a bargaining chip to satisfy political agendas at home and abroad and used to bargain for others trade interests”, he said.
The Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO) has condemned the deal as unacceptable, with a highly developed Irish mackerel fishery standing to lose out “dramatically”.
KFO chief executive Sean O’Donoghue said on Christmas Eve that the deal would “require very close examination and analysis”.
“Make no mistake – we will be seeking compensation from our EU colleagues to put right this grievous wrong,” he said.
“We won’t accept this. Moreover, we fully expect the Irish government to deliver the requisite compensation in the form of transfer of mackerel quota from the other EU coastal states which, pro-rata, have seen a much less severe impact on their respective mackerel fisheries,” Mr O’Donoghue said.
Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation CEO Sean O'Donoghue
Britain’s National Fisheries Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations has described the deal as a “bit of a fudge”, and has said fishing has been “sacrificed to other national objectives”.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also accused the Tory government of selling out Scottish fishermen, tweeting "promises they knew couldn't be delivered, duly broken."
The British Government's Scottish Secretary Alister Jack, who described the deal as "great news for Scotland's businesses", said the agreement would “ensure that our fishermen, and our coastal communities, will flourish outside of the EU's unfair Common Fisheries Policy”.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney is due to brief Cabinet on the deal today.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland’s EEZ comprised 10 per cent of the EU’s EEZ, while Britain comprised 17 per cent before Brexit.
After Brexit, Irish waters will comprise 12 per cent of EU waters, it has said.
