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KFO enraged at Government penalty points U-turn

8/30/2020

 

Taoiseach must urgently amend legislation

​Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO) CEO, Seán O’Donoghue has stated that the fishing industry is livid that Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, acting as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, enacted highly controversial penalty points legislation yesterday (Friday) with zero consultation with fishermen and in spite of having stridently opposed it, while in opposition.

“This is quite simply, a scandalous and a very misguided step by the Taoiseach. We have made our point regarding the penalty points measure on numerous occasions and we were  fully supported by Fianna Fáil when they were in opposition. We are not against a penalty points regime since it is an EU requirement but there must be an equitable manner of administering this.

“Page 82 of the current Programme for Government commits to ‘Implement a fair EU points system in order to protect fish stocks and ensure the release of suspended EU funding.’ This signing of the Statutory Instrument (SI) by the Taoiseach has come completely out of the blue and putting it mildly, is neither fair nor reasonable and runs contrary to the Programme for Government of introducing a fair system.
“Our industry is simply apoplectic. The SI must be amended and the offending parts removed such as the burden of proof to be changed to beyond reasonable doubt, no right of appeal to High Court except on a point of law and incredibly, even if the fisherman is successful in the High Court, the penalty points would still remain on the licence,” concluded Mr O’Donoghue.

Further information:
 
Seán O’Donoghue
087 4196535

Creed rejects fisheries sector plea for COVID-19 support

5/22/2020

 

Producer organisations accuse Minister of ‘failing to recognise the gravity of unprecedented crisis’
​

In rejecting impassioned appeals for specific COVID supports from a beleaguered fishing industry which is fighting for its very survival in the face of the pandemic, Agriculture Minister Michael Creed and his officials have effectively turned their back on the sector. That’s the view of the four fish producer organisations which form the backbone of a €1.22 billion industry which supports more than 16,150 jobs in this country and is endeavouring to continue providing seafood to a market which has crashed on a multitude of levels.

“Earlier this month, the Minister did announce a Covid-19 Voluntary Fleet Tie-up Scheme which is completely unfit for purpose. Instead of achieving the key objective of matching current supply and demand, the scheme will do the reverse with very little voluntary uptake as almost all vessels will continue to fish thus making an already over supplied market worse. Crucially, not one single cent of new financial support is being made available to the industry. We have met with the Minister and his officials and set out clearly what we need to survive this pandemic. Moreover, we have already successfully lobbied at EU level to have amendments to the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund provided for under EU Regulation 2020/560 to mitigate the impact of the COVID‐19 outbreak,” said Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation Chief Executive, Seán O’Donoghue.
​
“Like many others, fishermen are struggling desperately, in the new ‘normal’ that we find ourselves in. Demand has fallen to such an extent that some fishermen are actually receiving no bids for the fish that they have risked life and limb, to catch. The closure of sales venues, such as restaurants, markets and other outlets, has seen prices for all fish plummet. Over the last few weeks, the price drop across many popular species has been in the region of 50% to 70%,” he continued.

“This has created a serious and unprecedented crisis for Irish fishermen. As an industry, we have never faced anything like it. The capitulation in demand and prices combined with the vulnerability and complexity of the supply chain has made the operations of fishing fleets and seafood production, a loss-making enterprise.”

Mr O’Donoghue said that the industry is, nonetheless, doing everything in its power to ensure consumers continue to have access to essential nutrition in the form of high-quality sustainable seafood. It has stepped up to the plate also to protect fishermen through increased health and safety restrictions and extensive surveillance and monitoring of crew.

“The entire industry is united in our unequivocal rejection of a botched and ultimately useless ‘scheme’ which does nothing to provide reassurance to fishermen. We’ve been endeavouring to try to manage a safe passage through Brexit and its consequences, now we’re hit with this. I’ve never witnessed anger like it in the sector and I’d implore the Minister to review the scheme, deliver the very basic support that we need to survive. We are more than willing to meet him halfway and continue to operate, thereby providing a sustainable and very important food supply,” concluded Mr O’Donoghue.

Further information:
Seán O’Donoghue
087 419 6535

KFO welcomes EU legislative measures to help maintain seafood supply

4/2/2020

 

Emergency additional financial support now imperative to manage unprecedented COVID-19 crisis
​

​The Killybegs Fisheries Organisation (KFO) has said it welcomes a suite of emergency measures proposed by the EU Commission today (Thursday, April 2nd) which endeavour to mitigate the adverse effects of an industry placed in serious peril by the COVID-19 crisis and to provide reassurance to the market. However, the Organisation emphasised it is now imperative additional financial supports are put in place forthwith, to complement these measures.

Chief Executive, Seán O’Donoghue said that the combination of simultaneous challenges around vessels being tied-up as well as seismic difficulties around the market price collapse and lack of cold storage for products has created the perfect, horrendous storm for the fisheries sector. The measures, which have to be still approved by both the EU Council and the European Parliament should be immediately implemented by the Minister recognising that the Commission-proposed measures are backdated to February 1st, 2020.

He stated: “We are hugely concerned at the ability of our members to continue to supply safe and healthy seafood and welcome today’s measures which allow the sector to continue to operate in the short-term in this unprecedented crisis.”

“We are literally and metaphorically in uncharted waters. This legislative package provides some solace for our members who are trying to keep the supply of food as constant as possible in the chaos which is encircling us all. However, we must be clear. It merely allows Member States more flexibility in reassigning and transferring unused funds which were already ring-fenced for our industry under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). No new funding has been provided today, that quite simply must be the next move from the Commission if we are to have a any semblance of a viable fisheries sector supplying healthy seafood post COVID-19. As it stands, fish prices have plummeted by up to 50% at a time when EU Governments are keen for the sector to continue to supply the market with a vital, safe and healthy food supply.

We commend the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and his officials for their work in liaising with our EU counterparts but implore that their efforts are redoubled to deliver meaningful, additional financial support as the crisis continues.

“Like so many industries, we are crippled by the chaotic and devastating ripple effects of COVID-19 and are both stunned and shocked at the consequences of what this pandemic has set in motion. We stand four-square behind our frontline workers, our Government as well as EU and indeed global leaders, as they seek to restrict the spread of the virus.”
​
ENDS
Seán O’Donoghue - 087 4196535

Fishing organisations condemn port blockades

3/25/2020

 

Stringent criteria being met to safeguard public health while maintaining seafood supply
​


Recent port blockades in Dingle and Castletownbere preventing access to fishing trawlers have been condemned by seven of the largest fishing organisations in the country as “unnecessary, alarmist and without any reasonable nor rational foundation”. The organisations are, namely: Irish Fish Producers Organisation (IFPO), Irish South and East Fish Producers Organisation (ISEFPO), Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO), Castletownbere Fishermman Co-Op, Clogherhead Fishermen’s Co-Op, Galway and Aran Fishermen’s Co-Op and Foyle Fishermen’s Co-Op.

The management of the organisations in question said that the blockades preventing French and Spanish vessels from offloading their catch would only damage the Irish industry in the long run and sought to reassure the wider public that extremely strict and enhanced conditions apply with regard to movement of crew in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department of Transport has introduced emergency measures for all vessels entering Irish ports whereby a “Maritime Declaration of Health” must be furnished ahead of arrival. The authorities may refuse entry in case of incomplete reporting. This, in tandem with the already existing HSE guidelines and Government restrictions which came into effect at midnight on March 24th mean that the fishing industry has stepped up to the plate, not just in terms of restricting the spread of COVID-19 but ensuring supplies of food remain in place.

They reiterated their unequivocal commitment to do everything in their power to play their part in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 and underlined the fact that there is now effectively a double-layer of protection in place regarding both Irish and foreign trawlers entering Irish ports. In addition to enhanced surveillance, the concerns raised by those protesting this week had already been taken on board.
However, juxtaposed with that obligation to protect human health is the need to maintain a supply of seafood to both the Irish and European markets and preventing trawler access to Irish ports means a critical food supply is put in jeopardy.

The organisations emphasised that they enjoyed cordial and professionally-sound working relationships with their French and Spanish counterparts as well as the wider European industry but protests such as those which had taken place in Dingle and Castletownbere in the last 48 hours were not in anyone’s interests and should not be repeated.

Finally, they stated that fisheries are caught in an extremely precarious economic position as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. They said they are working with the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the European Commission as well as their sister organisations at European level in examining a number of potential solutions to the seismic challenge facing the sector.
​
ENDS
Contact details for all seven organisations listed below:

John Ward, Irish Fish Producers Organisation
087 2548520
 
Hugo Boyle, Irish South and East Fish Producers Organisation
086 0222090
 
Seán O’Donoghue, Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation
087 4196535
 
John Nolan Castletownbere Fishermen’s Co-op
086 2671996
 
Paul Boyd, Clogherhead Fishermen’s Co-op
087 2298276
 
John D O’Kane, Foyle Fishermen’s Co-op
086 2549006
 
Seán Griffin, Galway and Aran Fishermen’s Co-Op
087 9050345

KFO lauds Barnier commitment to fisheries

2/4/2020

 

Draft mandate sets out support required by Irish industry
​

The Killybegs Fisheries Organisation (KFO) has welcomed today’s EU's draft negotiating blueprint for Brexit trade talks stating that insofar as fisheries is concerned, it offers tangible hope to the Irish industry and provides a timely boost after a bruising, exhausting period of negotiation.

However, Seán O’Donoghue sounded a note of caution stating that while Mr Barnier had endorsed the European Fisheries Alliance position which the KFO forms an intrinsic part of, there is a long way to go and the UK Government hasn’t shown itself to a model of consistency in what are unprecedented discussions.

The text of the blueprint states: “the objective of the provisions on fisheries should be to uphold Union fishing activities. In particular, it should aim to avoid economic dislocation for Union fishermen that have traditionally fished in the United Kingdom waters. To reach this objective, the provisions on fisheries should build on existing reciprocal access conditions, quota shares and the traditional activity of the Union fleet.
“The terms on access to waters and quota shares shall guide the conditions set out in regard of other aspects of the economic part of the envisaged partnership, in particular of access conditions under the free trade area as provided for in Point B of Section 2 of this Part.”

Having been at the heart of negotiations from day one, Mr O’Donoghue said, “Mr Barnier stated clearly today and I quote, ‘agreement on fisheries will be intrinsically linked to the trade agreement.’ That is what we have implored from the get-go. As long as our negotiators stick tight to this position, there remains light at the end of the tunnel.

“Any other outcome is too ghastly to countenance and the EU27 must now remain united and strong to retain that crucial linkage between fisheries and trade.”
​
He reiterated his assertion that the one industry which is completely and uniquely exposed to anything other than an orderly transition, is the Irish fisheries sector. Last year, our seafood industry was valued at €1.25billion employing more than 14,300 people with this economic footprint predominantly in rural, coastal locations. A no-deal Brexit would be the death knell for many coastal fishing communities, with projected job losses of between 30% and 40% in the Irish industry. Currently, almost a third of Irish catch is caught in UK waters mostly notably 60% of mackerel and 40% of nephrops (prawns).

Seán O’Donoghue
087 4196535

UK Fisheries Bill confirms ‘worst fears’ of Irish fishermen

1/29/2020

 

​Trade linkage paramount to avoid chaos at sea
​

The Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO) has expressed its bemusement at the UK Fisheries Bill published today. The bill, which proposes denying Irish fishermen automatic access to UK waters, would have catastrophic ramifications for the Irish fishing industry but in reality, is “a poor man’s Trojan horse” in the greater scheme of EU/UK negotiations according to the KFO CEO, Seán O’Donoghue.
​
However, the KFO remains optimistic that the linkage between trade and fisheries as set out in the EU’s Political Declaration will be not merely endorsed but strengthened.

Mr O’Donoghue said: “I cannot over-emphasise how important it is that the work invested in the political declaration by Michel Barnier, Phil Hogan and others is fully supported by the EU27. This UK bill is little more than posturing and its timing is hardly a surprise, but the real negotiations are entering an absolutely crucial phase.

“The UK bill will be null and void once the EU27 remain united and retain the linkage between fisheries and trade. The political declaration by the EU and UK on the next round of Brexit negotiations sets July 1st as the target date for agreeing a new fisheries deal between the EU and UK.

“We have done and will continue to do everything in our power to fight for the future viability of Irish fisheries and that means being a part of overall trade negotiations. The stakes have never been higher and we will not be found wanting in fighting our corner and not allowing Brexit be the death knell for our proud industry,” stated the KFO CEO.

He concluded his remarks by reiterating his assertion that the one industry which is completely and uniquely exposed to anything other than an orderly transition, is the Irish fisheries sector. Last year, our seafood industry was valued at €1.25billion employing more than 14,300 people with this economic footprint predominantly in rural, coastal locations. A no-deal Brexit would be the death knell for many coastal fishing communities, with projected job losses of between 30% and 40% in the Irish industry. Currently, almost a third of Irish catch is caught in UK waters and up to 60% of mackerel and 40% of nephrops (prawns) currently caught will suddenly and literally, be beyond our reach.

ENDS

Further information:
Seán O’Donoghue
087 4196535

2020 Irish Quotas

12/18/2019

 
See also KFO Newsletter No 76 (December 2019)​
Picture

KFO recognises ‘reasonable outcome’ to Fisheries Council talks

12/17/2019

 

​Fate of Irish fishing industry remains inextricably linked to Brexit negotiations


​The Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO) has said that this week’s Council of Fisheries Ministers annual meeting in Brussels has delivered a reasonable overall result on certain key stocks but has upheld misguided proposals on others.However, its CEO, Seán O’Donoghue, said at the end of Council that this is almost certain to be the last December Fisheries Council in this format with the looming withdrawal of the UK from the EU. This was the metaphorical calm before a potentially devastating storm with the long- term future of the industry very much in the balance as the UK and EU negotiating teams assess and mould Britain’s exit plan from the EU.

Commenting on the conclusion of talks which entered a third day, Mr O’Donoghue said that TACs and quotas had been set at sustainable levels.

"The Commission’s unworkable proposals for cod and whiting in the Celtic Sea were changed to setting appropriate by catch and catch levels for these species and a range of workable technical conservation measures to avoid a vast array of sustainable fisheries being closed. There were significant sustainable increases in a number of species such as 41% increase in mackerel, 23% and 30% increases respectively in haddock in areas 6a and 7b-k, a 7% increase in monkfish area 7 and a doubling of small sole quota area 7gf. The reduction in nephrops our second most important economic stock was not unexpected but none the less it will have an affect on the demersal fleet.  The 30% reduction in monkfish in area 6a and the 40% reduction in pollack areas 6 are disappointing as they are based on dubious science.  In the overall context of all stocks of Irish interest there has a small increase of 1%.” He added; I wish to thank Minister Creed and his team of officials for achieving a reasonable sustainable outcome in difficult circumstances.”   

“A no-deal Brexit really cannot be what people want but it still is a possibility on 1st January 2021. The situation would be uncontrollable with almost 3,000 kilometers of a ‘water border’ to be policed and the potentially devastating consequences for fleets which would have to be tied up.
“Ultimately, it would be the death knell for many coastal fishing communities, with the demise of the Irish seafood sector to the tune of between 30% and 50% and projected job losses of between 30% and 40% in the fishing industry here. The reliance we have on UK waters for species such as mackerel (60%) and nephrops (40%) is staggering, these are two main money “spenders” for the industry. It’s very hard to get one’s head around the fact that waters, to which we have enjoyed access, could be out of bounds on 1st January 2021 with no physical wall nor barrier in place."

“It is imperative that no stone is left unturned to protect the Irish seafood sector in the future   trade negotiations which, last year alone, was valued at €1.25billion, employing more than   14,300 people predominantly in rural, coastal locations. Michel Barnier and Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan will play key roles, along with our Government, to negotiate the retention of the close linkage between fisheries and the wider trade relationship in order to maintain existing access to fishing waters and existing resource allocations. This linkage is absolutely critical."

“Whereas fish are mobile and know no borders nor bear any nationality, our trawlers don’t have this luxury and must obey boundaries and exclusion zones. We must do absolutely everything in
our power to deliver a reasonable solution in terms of access to waters and resources thereby avoiding a ‘no-deal’ Brexit and the ramifications which this would have for our sector,” concluded Mr O’Donoghue.

Further information:
Seán O’Donoghue
087 4196535

Commission’s cod and whiting proposals branded ‘unworkable’

12/14/2019

 

Darker Brexit shadow hangs over talks, post-UK election

The Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO) has expressed its concern ahead of the annual meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers. It believes that an industry already in a state of heightened anxiety regarding Brexit could now face further serious challenges and potential hardship particularly with the Commission’s cod and whiting proposals in the Celtic Sea. The negotiations to set Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas for 2020 take place in Brussels on Monday and Tuesday next (December 16th and 17th).

Seán O’Donoghue, CEO of the KFO said: “Brexit will now become a reality with the resounding Tory victory in last Thursday’s UK election. Along with our European colleagues, we have worked night and day for the last three and a half years to mitigate against the seismic ramifications on our €21billion industry, of this defining moment in modern political history.

“It is imperative that might and main are moved to protect the Irish seafood sector in the future trade negotiations which last year alone, was valued at €1.25billion employing more than 14,300 people predominantly in rural, coastal locations. Michel Barnier and Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan will play key roles along with our Government, to negotiate the retention of the close linkage between fisheries and the wider trade relationship in order to maintain existing access to fishing waters and existing resource allocations. This linkage is absolutely critical.
 
“However, we must also keep our eye on the ball in the short-term and the Commission’s remedial measures, published as part of its TACs and quotas proposals 2020 for cod and whiting in the Celtic Sea are ‘unworkable’. These would have dire impacts on a whole range of fisheries in the area with the early closure of these fisheries, should these measures be adopted in their present form. Fishermen cannot countenance these unworkable measures in the Celtic Sea that would lead to early closures of a vast array of sustainable fisheries in the area with the loss of jobs as well as putting the viability of the demersal fleet in jeopardy.

“The Commission’s proposals also contain some significant reductions in a number of key Irish stock such as the 15% reduction in nephrops, 30% reduction in monkfish and 40% reduction in pollack. I question the justification for these reductions both on a scientific basis particularly for monkfish and pollack and also most importantly that the Commission’s proposals take no account of the socio-economic obligations enshrined in the CFP. The proposals only take account of the sustainability principles. If the socio-economic obligations had been taken into account, the proposed cuts in some of our key stocks would almost be eliminated or significantly reduced. I fully expect Minister Creed to take account of these missing factors from the Commission’s proposals during the Council next week.”

There are some stocks not yet included in the Commission’s proposals such as mackerel and blue whiting. These have now been agreed at Coastal States level with mackerel up 41% and blue whiting up 2%.
“In recent years, errors in the scientific advice has also led to me publicly expressing concern that ICES does not have a fit-for-purpose quality assurance system in place. In this regard, it is imperative that ICES expediates the putting in place a quality assurance system across its entire process to enable all stakeholders have confidence in its advice,” concluded Mr O’Donoghue.
​
The KFO expects, as in previous years, after the usual battles that ‘The Hague Preferences’ - which see Ireland and the UK getting elevated quotas for a number of key species when reductions are proposed - will be delivered. The KFO will be meeting Minister Creed and his advisers in Brussels ahead of the talks beginning and subsequently, on a regular basis during the Fisheries Council negotiations. We will support his endeavours to deliver the best deal possible in terms of sustainable and economically-viable fishing opportunities for Ireland for 2020.

Further information:
Seán O’Donoghue
087 4196535

KFO welcomes 41% boost in 2020 mackerel quota

10/17/2019

 

Scientific advisory group rectifies previous errors

Irish pelagic fishermen have been given a timely and welcome boost with negotiations around next year’s mackerel catch providing for a 41% increase in quota for 2020.

The development has been welcomed by Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation CEO, Seán O’Donoghue who said the conclusion of this week’s coastal states meeting in London has resulted in a very satisfactory tripartite agreement reached between the EU, Norway and the Faroe Islands.

The Irish quota for 2020 is 78,054 tonnes which represents an increase of 22,740 on this year’s quota of 55,314 tonnes.
“Last year, I was extremely critical of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea or ICES and its scientific advice. That criticism was proven 100% accurate since an ICES review on May 15th last provided for an overall figure of 770,358 tonnes for 2019 instead of 318,403 tonnes and now a further increase for 2020 to 922,064 tonnes, a figure which is an incredible increase of almost 190% on the advice it had offered in September of 2018."
​
“I’m extremely pleased that the Coastal States have taken on board the concerns of the KFO and others, which I have expressed regularly in numerous fora regarding the lack of quality assurance in the ICES assessment process by including a specific written reference to this in the final document”, said Mr O’Donoghue.

The KFO CEO said he fully agreed with the criticism leveled at Iceland, Russia and Greenland at the meeting by the EU, Norway and the Faroes for their decisions to increase their unilateral quotas for mackerel for 2019. In the case of Iceland, it increased from 107,000 tonnes to 140,000 tonnes. As a result, the share of the Icelandic unilateral quota has effectively increased to 21.5% of the overall Total Allowable Catch (TAC). Since 2014, they have had an average unilateral TAC of 16.5% - well in excess of the amount set aside for the three parties outside the agreement, namely Iceland, Russia and Greenland. It is not acceptable that Iceland, Russia and Greenland act in such irresponsible manner and put the sustainability of the healthy mackerel stock in jeopardy. An appropriate set of actions must be put in place to stop this continuing.
​
Mr O’Donoghue concluded by acknowledging the pivotal role played by Minister Michael Creed and his officials in delivering this favourable outcome.
ENDS
Further information:
Seán O’Donoghue
087 419 6535
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