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KFO welcomes Fisheries Council deal                                          Brexit remains ‘elephant in the room’ for extremely concerned Irish fishermen

12/13/2017

 
​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.
​
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. 

ENDS

Further information:
Seán O'Donoghue
087 4196535

300 jobs in jeopardy from Commission proposal

12/7/2017

 
KFO implore intervention of Minister Creed to avoid €33million loss to fisheries sector
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The KFO is appealing in the strongest possible terms to Minister Michael Creed to ensure that the European Commission’s proposed cuts for certain key stocks are reversed and that the advised increase for prawns is adopted ahead of next week’s meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers to set TACs and quotas for 2018.   These cuts, if adopted by the Council could result in up to 300 full-time and part-time jobs losses in the fisheries sector and ancillary services. The potential direct losses are approximately €33 million including the 20% reduction in Ireland’s mackerel quota already agreed at the Coastal States negotiations. Some of the pelagic TACs such as mackerel, blue whiting and Atlanto Scandia herring are not included yet in the Commission’s proposals as the international negotiations had not been completed prior to publication of its proposals.
KFO CEO, Seán O’Donoghue said:
“
 
For example, the Commission’s proposal for whiting in the Celtic Sea is for a TAC for 2018 of 11,216 tonnes whereas the ICES scientific advice is for a TAC of 19 ,429 tonnes a difference a minus 42%. Likewise, for prawns in area VII the ICES scientific advice is for a 33% increase however the Commission’s proposals do not reflect this increase instead propose the same TAC as this year.”
 
He added: “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 and even then, the Commission has ignored this principle for certain stocks. 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 and I expect Minister Creed to take account of these missing factors from the Commission’s proposals during the Council next week.”
The KFO expects, as in previous years, after the usual battles with other Member States 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 loss of these allocations in 2018 would amount to 2,726 tonnes of fish with a direct value of €5 million.
The KFO will be meeting Minister Creed and his advisers in Brussels on Sunday night next and on a regular basis during the Fisheries Council negotiations to support his endeavours to deliver the best deal possible in terms of sustainable and economically viable fishing opportunities for Ireland for 2018.
ENDS
Further information:
Seán O’Donoghue,
087 – 4196535 or 074 97 31089

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