New EU figures highlight the perilous state of the fisheries sector in Ireland

Published on: 15 November 2011


Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP for Ireland North West and a Member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries today reacted to new figures released by the EU statistical office Eurostat on the state of the European and Irish fisheries sectors.

Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP said today that “according to the report, the Irish fishing fleet consisted of 2,109 vessels in 2009 equivalent to 69,692 gross tonnage (GT). While this represents a slight increase on the previous year, the total value of landings into Irish fishing ports declined by 14 million Euro in 2009, which is alarming. From the period 2005 to 2008 there was a substantial increase in landings.”

“While these new figures highlight what was already widely known for some time, they are published during a critical period as the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy is now underway. This latest reform represents the last opportunity for the EU to implement real and significant change.”

“However, the proposals released by the Commission on 13 July fall short in many respects and will further reduce the size and value of our fleet if implemented.”

“For example, If introduced, transferrable quota rights will be a disaster for the Irish fishing industry as mainland European companies will be allowed enter the Irish market and take ownership of our industry. The Commission proposal fails to ring fence the buying and selling of quota to individual Member States. I will strongly oppose the introduction of transferrable quota rights within the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries.”

“I will also be submitting several amendments to the Commission proposal to ensure meaningful regionalisation as the existing one size fits all Common Fisheries Policy has clearly failed to deliver for Irish fishermen. I shall also seek to exempt small scale and small island fisheries from the provisions of the Common Fisheries Policy.”

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