Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher has said that the current situation whereby Norwegian boats are hoovering up fish in Irish waters, with no tangible benefit to Ireland, needs to stop.
Kelleher, an MEP from Ireland South, was commenting after the Irish fishing sector raised concerns about overfishing of mackerel by Norwegian vessels. Norway has super-inflated their mackerel quotas above scientific advice and their historical share. They then entered into a bilateral agreement with the UK to fish these mackerel stock in UK-Scottish waters.
“Deals are being done to enable Norway gain access to Irish waters and then as a quid pro quo for other EU member states to gain access to Norwegian waters. The only ones not benefiting are Irish boats who get nothing or very little in return.
“Irish waters are being used for leverage in other fishing negotiations and our fishermen are losing out.
“What’s equally concerning is the fact that these Norwegian trawlers are overfishing mackerel stocks; this overfishing has now crashed the mackerel stocks.
“Ireland’s fishing industry depends heavily on mackerel and the projected 22% cut in mackerel quota will cost Ireland €18 million euro in 2025.
“We now see Norway eyeing up our blue whiting stocks too. This madness needs to stop.
“Negotiations about the future of the Common Fisheries Plan will commence in the next period.
“The Irish Government must stand firm and demand a quid pro quo benefit for Ireland if other countries, especially non-EU countries, are to be given access to Irish waters.
“The EU Commission needs to reign in Norway; no third country can destroy the fishing opportunity of an EU Member State and then expect to get greater fishing opportunities in that Member State’s waters. Ireland needs solidarity from all of our EU colleagues.
“Out fishing sector is under serious pressure. Brexit was a major calamity for these boats and the communities they support. We cannot allow any further diminution of the Irish fishing sector at the behest of non-EU fishing fleets. It’s unfair and not sustainable for either the communities affected or the fish stocks impacted,” concluded Kelleher
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