Five Irish fishing producing and processing seafood organisations have united to “demand change at national and EU level”.
“Our objective is to work together on raising awareness of critical challenges impacting the sector at both national and EU level,” the five organisations said in a joint statement after a day-long meeting in Dublin.
The five are the Killybegs Fisherman’s Organisation (KFO), the Irish Fish Producers Organisation (IFPO), the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation (IS&WPO), the Irish South and East Fish Producers Organisation (IS&EPO), and the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association (IFPEA).
The groups say they have “committed to work closely together in a more formalised relationship”.
Newly appointed KFO chief executive Dominic Rihan said it was “a first step in a fast-track process towards a more focused and coherent united approach”.
Rihan, who took over from Sean O’Donoghue at the beginning of this year and is formerly of Bord Iascaigh Mhara, said this approach was “to best represent our membership at both catching and onshore processing segments”.
“We want to develop a national perspective and map a sustainable future for the sector that supports our coastal communities,”he said.
IFPO chief executive Aodh O'Donnell said the groups planned to “start a comprehensive wide ranging industry engagement”.
“It is heartening to have cohesion and commitment to a plan that will strategically drive us forward,”he said, adding that the need for improved co-operation is imperative.
“The situation is changing rapidly. We each have a responsibility to mediate, and to deliver better outcomes on a shared basis for our sector that is at a critical juncture. The work plan we agreed prioritises the re-establishing of an effective liaison process with the Marine minister and his department officials,”O’Donnell said.
IS&EFPO chief executive John Lynch said he was “confident that we have a shared view of the essentials to deliver for our members”.
“This is a significant step forward and together we will make progress to advance the sector. Positive change can be achieved if we put our shoulder to the wheel as an aligned group,”he said.
IFPEA chief executive officer Brendan Byrne said that “having a road map is useful to move forward”.
“A key outcome is a consensus agreement on the challenges we face in post Brexit and the need to radically reform the Common Fisheries Policy. The support of the minister and his team will be key to developing a strategic approach,”he said.
IS&WPO chief executive Patrick Murphy, who polled 14,000 first preference votes in last week’s European election, said the move to unite efforts and initiatives is long overdue.
“Collectively we have a broad set of shared experiences and capacities. We have been very adversely hit by external factors such as Brexit and the reduction in quotas in recent years. Improved, effective engagement with the Minister and the EU at policy level is a starting point in our aligned work plan,”Murphy said.
“The Irish fishing industry has been dealt a hammer blow by Brexit on top of the CFP, which is now outdated,” Rihan said.
“This systematic engagement will help to drive and deliver positive change, but is reliant on proactive engagement at national and EU level,”he added.