The Irish fishing industry is down more than €37m. in landings, a huge drop. All sectors of the industry from the big pelagic boats to the smallest inshore boats are united in opinion – the industry is in its worst crisis ever and the Government is not doing enough to support the sector.
That is the leading story on this month’s Podcast and it reflects a very difficult situation, with a lot of concern in dependendent coastal communities, that the irish fishing industry is being forced into what could, if not averted by corrective action, be terminal decline. This concern is reflected in every sector of the industry. Yet it is not being recognised politically, nor in the national media. It is happening at a time when the Common Fisheries Policy is due for review. The Brexit Agreement and its serous impact on the industry is coming up also for re-examination in the near future. When the CFP id discussed by the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee, Ireland will not be represented on that Committee, because of the failure of Irish MEPs to get Irish representation on the Committee. This has been described as an “appalling failure to represent the industry and coastal commuities,” according to industry representative organisations. Spain, France, Holland, Belgium, all with big interest in waters off Ireland where they have the biggest catching quotas, compared with much lower for Irish vessels, have several members on the Committee. Even Hungary, a landlocked country, has one member.
IRISH POLITICAL FAILURES ON FISHING
Ireland’s MEPs failed to get a member, because the members of the political parties focused their attention on getting onto agriculture committees. This reflected views expressed by the Taoiseach and Tanaiste at the annual conferences of their political parties. They pledged support to the farming sector, but ignored fishing. When, as Executive Editor/News of the Marine Times newspaper, I wrote to Mr. Harris and Mr. Martin, asking why they had ignored fishing, they did not reply. Farming is important, but the fishing industry is also a food supplier.
Why does this attitude exist amongst political/Government leaders? Why does the national media ignore the fishing indusry crisis?
“The Minister and the Government must be clear,” says Dominic Rihan, KFO CEO on my Podcast this month. “The industry cannot take any further quota reductions or other impacts. There will be nothing left of the industry. It is that serious. There must be re-negotiation of the Brexit deal and the CFP. The industry needs real Government help and support which is not happening and that is discouraging. The industry is in crisis, which should be recognised.”
I have written an analysis of the situation in the September edition of the MARINE TIMES which is in the shops now and also availabel online.
Controversy over statistics
The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority published its ‘Key Statistics 2023’ report last month which industry organisations criticised. Patrick Murphy, Chief Executive at the Irish South and West Fish Producers’ Organisation in Castletownbere said: “The picture being put forward misrepresents the industry situation. Everybody is under pressure, from the big pelagic boats down to the inshore fleet. The SFPA is trying to present our share in a way that is disproportionate to the reality and are giving the impression that we are making multiples of what we are making. How can the SFPA present a picture where it is misrepresenting the truth of its own figures?”
“We are really starting to see the impact of Brexit now,” said Dominic Rihan, CEO at the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation. “The SFPA are trying to put a positive picture out, but when you dig down into the figures it is quite clear that the reality is not what the SFPA has indicated. The situation is not positive. The Irish industry is not doing well. It is struggling. That is the reality.”
Aodh O’Donnell, CEO at the Irish Fish Producers’ Organisation, said that the SFPA figures “show that the value of fish landed in Ireland from Irish vessels fell by €38m last year – a fall of 11% – compared to 2022. In contrast, landings by foreign vessels into Ireland dropped by just 3%, only a €5m. reduction in value. This is a sure sign of how badly the Common Fisheries Policy is failing Ireland.”
“The publication of statistics by the SFPA is somewhat misleading. They do not truly reflect anything of a meaningful or purposeful value to the state of our sector and they mislead the public in regard to the reality of the present crisis within our sector,” according to Brendan Byrne, Chief Executive of the Irish Fish Producers and Exporters Association.
The SFPA rejected criticism of its statistics.
Where Is the BIM Business of Seafood Report?
There is another question – BIM ‘Business of Seafood Report,’ giving economic data for each year relative to the viability of the industry not yet been published? It is usually published earlier in the year. Other CEOs have also raised the question – Why has it been delayed?
BIM said: “The draft report is currently being reviewed and will be published on BIM.ie once finalised.”
The lack of the BIM report means that there is no counterbalance check against the SFPa figures, one industry source told me.
The message to Taoiseach Harris and Tanaiste Martin from the fishing industry seems clear. They should note it and respond.
