CEO saddened at passing of ‘recognisable face’ of fisheries
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​Industry stakeholders along with An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste, Simon Coveney and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed ahead of this afternoon’s meeting to discuss the issues posed by Brexit for Irish fisheries.

Producer organisations welcome unequivocal support of Irish Government

The Irish fishing industry must be supported in each and every way possible to ensure the continued inclusion of fisheries as part of trade negotiations, no reduction in our share, the retention of access to UK waters and that the status quo is ultimately maintained post-Brexit.
That was the forceful message from An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar following a meeting with the Irish fish producer organisations, namely the KFO, the IFPO and the ISEFPO as well as processors this afternoon, which was also attended by An Tánaiste, Simon Coveney and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed.

CEO of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation, Seán O’Donoghue responded:
“Irish fishermen are extremely anxious that the legal text of any Brexit agreement must reflect their demands. Today’s clear commitment from the Irish Government to the industry is most encouraging and another big step forward on a long, turbulent and uncertain road which happened upon us on June 23rd, 2016. This was a historic meeting in many ways, a first for our organisations to meet with Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Agriculture Minister simultaneously. We couldn’t have asked for more by way of Government attentiveness and support.
“It is imperative now that we all unite to ensure no slippage in terms of this political support and to provide the certainty that more than 14,500 people working in the €1.15billion Irish seafood sector, require and deserve. Maintaining reciprocal access to waters and resources as agreed in the guidelines should be at the heart of the post-Brexit relationship in fisheries given the historic ties and inextricable links between our countries and industries.”
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Seán O’Donoghue
087 419 6535

Producer organisations to meet Taoiseach on Brexit process
 
Irish fishermen are adamant that the legal text of any Brexit agreement must reflect their demands and that the commitment of the Irish Government to their industry must be spelled out clearly and unequivocally.
 
That’s the message that Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation CEO, Seán O’Donoghue, will bring to An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar at a fisheries meeting, exclusively focusing on Brexit in Dublin tomorrow afternoon (Thursday).
 
The meeting will also be attended by An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and the Marine, Michael Creed, while the principal Irish producer organisations and processers will provide an industry perspective on the potential challenges which Brexit poses to their livelihood.
 
“It is imperative that fisheries negotiations are not separated from the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and that there is no dilution of what has already been achieved in the lengthy negotiations. We absolutely must maintain the status quo post-Brexit in retaining access to UK waters as well as quota share. We must have our Hague preferences protected and avoid a situation whereby we are at a cliff-edge at midnight on March 29th, 2019,” said Mr O’Donoghue.
 
Last month, the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation welcomed the approved Brexit guidelines as a “vindication of everything we have done since June 23rd, 2016 and the culmination of an extensive programme of high-end political engagement and lobbying.”
Like its European Fisheries Alliance (EUFA) colleagues, the main Irish producer organisations have, always, recognised the importance of Brexit negotiations for the future of Irish fisheries. 
Seán O’Donoghue stated:
 
“We reacted very swiftly in forming alliances with our European counterparts to establish the European Fisheries Alliance in September 2016. Each member impressed upon its Head of Government how the level of uncertainty and the scale of the challenge facing their fishermen merited special attention, hence our insistence that trade and fisheries be inextricably linked at all times in the negotiations.
 
“I was particularly pleased that the guidelines adopted by the EU 27 made specific reference to fisheries by stating in paragraph 8.i: ‘In the overall context of the FTA, existing reciprocal access to fishing waters and resources should be maintained.’ This is exactly what we had requested in terms of linkage with wider trade negotiations and the maintenance of reciprocal access to fishing waters and resources.
 
He concluded: “We now stand ready to support the European Commission and the EU27 during the next phase of negotiations on the future framework. Maintaining reciprocal access to waters and resources as agreed in the guidelines should be at the heart of the post-Brexit relationship in fisheries given the historic ties and inextricable links between our countries and industries. I would like to acknowledge the role played by the Irish Government, in particular Tánaiste Simon Coveney, Minister Michael Creed and their officials to this point but now more than ever, we must unite to ensure that the final outcome is wholly consistent with what we have requested. Our €1.15billion Irish fishing industry which sustains more than 14,500 jobs, must remain a top priority for our Government and we cannot concede an inch as these negotiations progress and intensify.”
 
Note to editor:


The European Fisheries Alliance is a coalition of European fishing fleets directly impacted by Brexit. Members include national organizations from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden. The alliance accounts for over 18,000 fishermen and 3,500 vessels with an annual turnover €20.7 billion.
 
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Seán O’Donoghue
087 419 6535
 

The Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation has responded to the approved Brexit guidelines adopted in Brussels earlier as a “vindication of everything we have done since June 23rd, 2016 and the culmination of an extensive programme of high-end political engagement and lobbying.”
Like its European Fisheries Alliance (EUFA) colleagues, the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation has, at all times, recognised the importance of Brexit negotiations for the future of Irish fisheries. 
KFO Chief Executive, Seán O’Donoghue said:
 
“We reacted very swiftly in forming alliances with our European counterparts to establish the European Fisheries Alliance in September 2016. Each member impressed upon its Head of Government how the level of uncertainty and the scale of the challenge facing their fishermen merited special attention, hence our insistence that trade and fisheries be inextricably linked at all times in the negotiations. Happily, we are now at a stage whereby we can see that our very legitimate concerns are being listened to but we cannot afford to concede any ground whatsoever as these extremely important negotiations now move onto phase two.
 
“I’m particularly pleased that the guidelines adopted today by the EU 27 make specific reference to fisheries by stating in paragraph 8.i: ‘In the overall context of the FTA, existing reciprocal access to fishing waters and resources should be maintained.’ This is exactly what we had requested in terms of linkage with wider trade negotiations and the maintenance of reciprocal access to fishing waters and resources. It comes only a few days after the welcome agreement in principle on a transition period up to the end of 2020 announced by EU Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier and the UK Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis MP confirming that all existing fisheries arrangements remain in place until that date”.
 
He concluded: “We now stand ready to support the European Commission and the EU27 during the next phase of negotiations on the future framework. Maintaining reciprocal access to waters and resources as agreed in the guidelines today should be at the heart of the post-Brexit relationship in fisheries given the historic ties and inextricable links between our countries and industries. I would like to acknowledge the role played by the Irish Government as well as our Minister Michael Creed and his officials in reaching this particular agreement.”
 
The KFO has always maintained that the €1.15billion Irish fishing industry which sustains more than 14,500 jobs, must be a top priority for our Government. The formal adoption of the guidelines today is seen as another key step as the Brexit process gathers momentum. The guidelines give Michel Barnier, the mandate to talk directly to the UK about the future relationship with a view to reaching a broad political agreement by October to allow the EU and UK parliaments time to consider it.
 
Note to editor:
The European Fisheries Alliance is a coalition of European fishing fleets directly impacted by Brexit. Members include national organizations from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden. The alliance accounts for over 18,000 fishermen and 3,500 vessels with an annual turnover €20.7 billion.
 
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Further information:

Seán O’Donoghue
087 419 6535

The Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation has welcomed the agreement in principle on a transition period announced yesterday by EU Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier and the UK Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis MP.
Like its European Fisheries Alliance (EUFA) colleagues, the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation has at all times, recognised that its members need time and predictability to make appropriate plans for the future. A transition period that maintains relative stability will ensure the continued sustainability of stocks and economic competitiveness for the fishing industry in the EU and the UK while an acceptable long-term deal is negotiated.
The European Fisheries Alliance is a coalition of European fishing fleets directly impacted by Brexit. Members include national organizations from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden. The alliance accounts for over 18,000 fishermen and 3,500 vessels with an annual turnover €20.7 billion.
KFO Chief Executive, Seán O’Donoghue said:
 
“This announcement on the transition period is an important step forward. It gives our fleet certainty until the end of 2020 and allows time to negotiate a post-Brexit fisheries relationship which is in the interest of both sides. We have always maintained that it is vital to maintain existing access to waters and resources and to conduct negotiations in the context of wider trade relations
 
We now stand ready to support the European Commission and the EU27 during the next phase of negotiations on the future framework. Maintaining reciprocal access to waters and resources should be at the heart of the post-Brexit relationship in fisheries given the historic ties and inextricable links between our countries and industries. It is now imperative that Minister Creed build on progress to date by fighting tooth and nail to ensure the commitments set out in the draft text are retained in the final document to be agreed at Council by the end of the month. We cannot afford to concede a single inch as these extremely important negotiations reach a finale.”
 
The KFO recognises the importance of involving the UK in a meaningful way in the annual discussions on total allowable catches (TACs) and fishing opportunities during the transition. The progress made on the draft Withdrawal Agreement, including the transition period, is a step in the right direction and the KFO would like to acknowledge the work carried out by EUFA, the European Commission’s Task Force 50 and Irish Government. The KFO has always maintained that the €1.15billion Irish fishing industry which sustains more than 14,500 jobs, must be a top priority for our Government as Ireland faces the enormity of Brexit drawing ever closer. The level of uncertainty and the scale of the challenge facing Irish fishermen has been causing the industry many sleepless nights since the British voted for Brexit on June 23rd, 2016 hence its insistence that trade and fisheries be inextricably linked at all times in high-level negotiations. 
 
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Seán O’Donoghue
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​New draft guidelines published by the European Council this week, have been very positively received by the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation. Its key concerns of avoidance of separation from other sectors as well as the retention of existing reciprocal access to fishing waters and resources are fully recognised in the draft text.
The draft guidelines, issued by the Council which sketch out the likely course of negotiations on the future relationship between the EU and the UK, make specific reference to fisheries in article seven which states:
 “Trade in goods, with the aim of covering all sectors, which should be subject to zero tariffs and no quantitative restrictions with appropriate accompanying rules of origin. In this context, existing reciprocal access to fishing waters and resources should be maintained.”
This good news comes on top of the transitional guidelines issued by the Council on January 29th last, which clearly states that during the transition period: “Specific consultations should also be foreseen with regard to the fixing of fishing opportunities (total allowable catches) during the transition period, in full respect of the Union acquis.” [1]
KFO Chief Executive, Seán O’Donoghue commented: “The Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation has lobbied intensely, in conjunction with our European Fisheries Alliance (EUFA) colleagues, to have these key commitments included both in the transitional arrangements and in the phase two trade negotiations. I would like to acknowledge the role played by Minister Creed and his officials in achieving this welcome result. I would simultaneously like to put on record it is now imperative that the Minister and his team fight tooth and nail to ensure the commitments set out in the draft text are retained in the final document to be agreed at Council by the end of this month.  
“I held lengthy discussions with the French Ambassador, Stéphane Crouzat in Killybegs this week and he has developed a deep appreciation of the situation in which the Irish fishing industry finds itself. The French industry too, would be decimated were the UK to restrict access to its waters and increase its percentage share of the TACs,” concluded Mr O’Donoghue.  
EU chief negotiator, Michel Barnier has also last week, reiterated his message that the issue of fisheries cannot be addressed in isolation from the wider trade agreement which is what the KFO and EUFA have stated from the outset. Both firmly believe that the unique nature of fisheries, a shared resource, must be considered within the context of wider trade relations as has now been set out in the draft guidelines.
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Seán O’Donoghue
087 419 6535


 

​The Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation has welcomed the outcome of the Council of Fisheries Ministers, which finished early this morning, as generally positive but stated it again underlines the imperative to have fisheries and the wider trade inextricably linked in the phase two Brexit negotiations.
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While a favourable result was achieved on Celtic Sea demersal stocks such as cod, haddock, whiting and nephrops as well as Celtic Sea herring, the KFO reemphasised the fear which preoccupies Irish fishermen with the future viability of the Irish industry hinging on a fair and favourable conclusion to phase two Brexit talks. Brexit cast a long dark shadow over this Council of Ministers with it now more critical than ever that that next mandate to be decided by Heads of Government includes the cast-iron stipulation that fisheries negotiations and the wider trade negotiations are fully linked.

Commenting at the conclusion of the Council, KFO Chief Executive, Seán O’Donoghue said: “Prior to the Council meeting, we had set out our concerns regarding certain demersal stocks such as cod, haddock, whiting in the Celtic Sea and nephrops in ICES area VII as well as for pelagic stocks of Celtic Sea herring. I have stated many times that when the state of the stock so requires, there must be reductions in the fishing opportunities for particular stocks. However, I had rightly contended, that a number of the reductions proposed on some of our key stocks, were unjustifiable and arbitrary. Moreover, they were contrary to the Commission’s own stated position and entirely unacceptable. I am pleased that this has been corrected and factored into the final outcome. The increases in haddock and monkfish in the North West and in horse mackerel, blue whiting and Albacore tuna  should also be acknowledged and while the mackerel cut of 20% was indeed disappointing, it was to be expected as it was already decided at the Coastal States last October. I would like to recognise the role and commitment of Minister Creed and his officials in working closely with us, taking on board our concerns and delivering a sustainable and economically viable package of measures for 2018.”

“All that said, I cannot emphasise the worry faced by Irish fishermen, as well as our colleagues in the eight other member countries of the European Fisheries Alliance, as Britain and its Environment Secretary, Michael Gove continue to enunciate the protection of the UK’s fishing industry to prevent the EU using transition arrangements to impose what it calls ‘unfair quotas.’ Our Minister, Michael Creed must insist on fisheries and wider trade remaining joined at the hip. Our geographic location, existing arrangements and high dependency on Britain means that we are perilously positioned if our Government doesn’t negotiate extremely effectively on our behalf,” said Mr O’Donoghue.

The Irish industry faces devastating consequences if fisheries aren’t made a top priority by the Irish Government in the next round of talks. 11,000 jobs are sustained in coastal areas by the Irish seafood industry which is worth just over €1.1billion.

UK Minister for Fisheries, George Eustice, has previously stated that “British fishermen will catch hundreds of thousands of tonnes more fish after Brexit” and with Ireland sharing 47 out of its 50 Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas stocks with Britain, it stands to reason that Ireland will suffer disproportionately if negotiations on fisheries are separated from wider trade negotiations. 

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Further information:
Seán O'Donoghue
087 4196535