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Anger at "illogical"
fishing proposal
17.11.08
POLITICIANS in
Inishowen have called for the proposed ban on
whitefish fisheries in the North West to be
scrapped. Senator Cecilia Keaveney said the scale of
the proposed cuts was "beyond logical".
"I have made my feelings clear to the Tánaiste in
person and on the floor of the Seanad. This issue
has to be revisited before the beginning of December
when talks on the fishing industry are due to
commence at European Union level," said Senator
Keaveney. "The Commission's proposal is unacceptable
and I do not believe it reflects environmental
circumstances. Fishermen need to be able to earn a
living and pay for their boats. |
"If they are not
allowed to remain at sea, logic dictates that the
fishing industry will close. This is one specific
area off the North West; it is geographically close
to us, but also targets the whitefish fleet that is
our main focus in Greencastle. This proposal is a
step too far," she said.
Meanwhile, Councillor, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn called
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Government to reject
outright the proposed cuts. He said the proposed ban
would mean the closure of the North West whitefish
sector and a 25% cut in some other species including
a 15% reduction in the prawn quota.
"The Irish Government must reject (the proposed
cuts) at the December meeting of fishing Ministers
but not alone that, they must represent the
overwhelming anger within the sector at the manner
in which the EU continues to treat the Irish fishing
community," said Cllr MacLochlainn.
"Decades of mismanagement under the Common Fisheries
Policy have allowed the wholesale plundering of our
waters by foreign fleet.
"That policy, based on a completely unjust
distribution of quota, has failed this country and
must be completely overhauled. This country must
reclaim control over this valuable natural resource
before it is completely destroyed by faceless
bureaucrats." |
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