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Storm brews between fishermen and
EU
27.06.11
by Jessie Magee
INISHOWEN fishing boats will have to record and land
every fish they catch even when they are not in a
saleable condition, under proposed changes to the
Common Fisheries Policy due to be published within
weeks.
EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki is expected
to unveil details on July 13 of a comprehensive
reform package which some Irish fishermen fear could
set the struggling industry back even further.
A central focus of the reforms is to eliminate
discards, in response to a high-profile campaign
against the practice of fishermen dumping up to half
their catch back into the sea. Discards would be
replaced with new quota systems to be phased in by
2016, based on how many fish are landed in port
rather than how many are caught. Fishing groups have
warned that the value of their catch will plummet if
they are not allowed the choice of which fish to
keep, especially in areas off the Atlantic where
many target species swim together. |
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Fishing boats at Greencastle harbour. |
North West MEP Pat ‘the
Cope’ Gallagher, who is lobbying the Commissioner on
behalf of Irish fishermen, says “serious incentives”
for fishermen are required if a ban on discards is
to be effective.
Mr Gallagher says he also has strong reservations
about a proposal to introduce a new system of
transferable fishing rights within member states for
all vessels over 12 metres. Under this scheme,
skippers would be guaranteed shares of national
quotas for at least 15 years, which they could trade
among themselves. Concerns have been raised that
this method could result in smaller fleets and lower
employment in the fishing sector. The reforms cannot
be passed without the agreement of member states and
MEPs. |
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