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Anger at "unfair" fish quotas
02.04.10
A DONEGAL deputy has
criticised regulations that allow Scottish and
Northern Ireland fishermen fish for shellfish (queenies)
in an area off Fanad Head and Greencastle when local
fishermen aren't permitted.
Joe McHugh T.D., said Scots fishermen and seamen
from the North were allowed to fish Area 39E3 - a
small pocket north of Fanad Head and Greencastle -
while Donegal fishermen weren't.
"Today Scottish and Northern Ireland boats are
fishing in Area 39E3 but local Donegal boats are not
allowed to," Deputy McHugh told the Marine Minister
in the Dáil.
“There is something amiss here. There is deep-felt
anger and resentment in Donegal, not towards other
fishermen, but towards the rules that make
circumstances unfair.”
This week's Dáil debate called for the assignment of
quotas to boats less than 18 feet in Area 6A.
Meanwhile, the Fine Gael T.D., also described as
"crazy" Government regulations that allow local
fishermen to fish less rock salmon off the county's
coast than are eaten annually by seals. |
He said Donegal
fishermen are allowed to fish 19 tonnes of rock
salmon off the Donegal coast when seals will eat 35
tonnes of salmon in the same waters in 2010.
“Research conducted by the Marine Institute shows
that 350,000 seals in the North West territory eat
10kg of fish everyday, which equates to 1,000 fish
boxes per day, and will total 35 tonnes for 2010,"
said Deputy McHugh.
“At the same time, regulations imposed by the
Government only permit Donegal fishermen to fish 19
tonnes of rock salmon this year. |
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When we consider what
seals are eating, the Government’s conservation and
sustainability measures are crazy. The new Minister
for Marine must listen to fishermen." |
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