Irish fishermen have united for a general election information campaign which aims to highlight key issues facing the sector.
The campaign urges voters in the forthcoming general election “to support coastal communities and safeguard our greatest national resource – our fish”.
The coalition of fishing representative organisations has compiled a voter information flyer and poster, co-ordinated by The Skipper magazine editor Niall Duffy.
The flyer and poster ask voters “to read and use to inform their thinking when being canvassed by candidates from all political parties and independents seeking a vote”.
Copies of the flyer and poster are being distributed to all constituencies and are being promoted on social media.
The coalition of fishing representative organisations has compiled a voter information flyer and poster
The campaign lists eight key demands, including “stopping the giveaway” of Ireland’s greatest natural resource, and appointing a dedicated minister for the marine.
Allocation of a “fair share” of fish in Irish waters, and extension of the seafarers’ tax allowance to fishermen are also on the list, along with securing the future for coastal communities and seeking a “complete renegotiation” of the EU Common Fisheries Policy.
The list calls for a halt to “criminalisation of fishermen for minor offences”, and appeals for support for the seafood processing sector and onshore jobs.
Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation chief executive Patrick Murphy, representing one of the seven groups, pointed to several recent reports highlighting a sector “in crisis”.
The value of fish landed by Ireland's fishing fleet has dropped by €38m, according to recently released statistics.
A report on fish landings for 2023 released by Ireland’s Central Statistics Office states that landings by foreign vessels in Irish ports fell by 20% last year compared to 2022.
Landings by all vessels in Irish ports fell by 8%.
Reports by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and by Bord Iascaigh Mhara also highlight a serious downturn, Mr Murphy pointed out.
“Fishermen aren’t crying wolf – they have the wolf with its teeth dug into their leg,”he said.
“Fish and offshore wind are our two natural resources on this island, but we are squandering the first one as Irish vessels have lost access to quota after Brexit, and the stock is not recovering due to the quotas allocated to non-Irish vessels,”he said.
“This is a lucrative industry and a renewable resource if properly managed, and that is what we want to tell the voter,”he said.
“And food security is becoming increasingly important.”
“Not only will we have no fishermen, but we will have no fish if the stocks continue to be depleted by other EU member states and third countries like Norway,”Mr Murphy said.
Jerry Early of the Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation, also part of the coalition, said that his members believe appointing a marine minister is “key”.
“Whether it is a junior minister or a full minister with access to Cabinet, we need this as the current brief involving agriculture which Minister Charlie McConalogue is responsible for is just too large,”Mr Early said.
“Everyone wants more quota, but until we get a dedicated person in political office that is accountable, a lot of that is unachievable,” Mr Early said.
Also supporting the campaign are the Irish South and East Fish Producers Organisation, the National Inshore Fishermen's Organisation, the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation, the Irish Fish Producers’ Organisation and Irish Fish Producers and Exporters Organisation.
