Norwegian fish-hoovering ‘madness’ must stop
A projected 22% cut in mackerel quota will cost Ireland €18 million in 2025, a Cork politician has warned.
Ireland South Fianna Fáil MEP, Billy Kelleher is calling for the immediate curtailment of access to Irish waters for Norwegian super-trawlers.
Mr Kelleher said that the current situation whereby Norwegian boats are “hoovering up fish” in Irish waters, with no tangible benefit to Ireland, needs to stop.
His comments came after the Irish fishing sector raised concerns about overfishing of mackerel by Norwegian vessels.
Mr Kelleher claims that Norway currently has “super-inflated” its mackerel quotas above scientific advice and its historical share.
“They then entered into a bilateral agreement with the UK to fish these mackerel stock in UK-Scottish waters,” said Mr Kelleher.
He continued: “Deals are being done to enable Norway gain access to Irish waters and then as a quid pro quo for other EU member states to gain access to Norwegian waters. The only ones not benefiting are Irish boats who get nothing or very little in return.
“Irish waters are being used for leverage in other fishing negotiations and our fishers are losing out,” added Mr Kelleher.
Concerns are also growing in Ireland’s fishing sector regarding Norway’s alleged overfishing of mackerel stocks which Mr Kelleher said has now crashed the mackerel stocks.
There is also concern that Norwegian vessels will begin to target other species.
“We now see Norway eyeing up our blue whiting stocks too. This madness needs to stop,” said Mr Kelleher.
Negotiations surrounding the future of the Common Fisheries Plan are set to commence in the coming months and Mr Kelleher is calling on the Irish Government to stand firm and demand a quid pro quo benefit for Ireland if other countries, especially non-EU countries, are to be given access to Irish waters.
He said: “The EU Commission needs to reign in Norway; no third country can destroy the fishing opportunity of an EU member state and then expect to get greater fishing opportunities in that member state’s waters.
“Our fishing sector is under serious pressure. Brexit was a major calamity for these boats and the communities they support. We cannot allow any further diminution of the Irish fishing sector at the behest of non-EU fishing fleets,” said Mr Kelleher.
Fishing sector prioritised
Fianna Fáil has vowed that its delegation in the European Parliament will take a full and active role in the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and hopefully its revision in the months ahead.
“At present, an evaluation of the CFP is being performed by the European Commission. Fianna Fáil will make its own submission and will feed into the Renew Europe submission and other policy documents relating to fishing and oceans,” said Mr Kelleher who is the head of the Fianna Fáil’s delegation in the European Parliament.
“We want to hear from those involved in the sector - be they fishers, processors, or representative bodies. Give us the ammunition we need to effect real and substantive changes for the Irish fishing sector,” he said.