Fishermen unhappy with EU quotas

The Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) has criticised the European Union Commission's fishing quotas for 2007 despite and claiming the figures "represent a serious challenge" for its representatives at the this month's fisheries talks in Brussels.

The quotas propose an increase in major demersal stocks such as Hake and Monkfish but recommend a significant reduction in the fishing of other species which, in some cases, according to FIF, contradicts scientific evidence.

The FIF claims that "the proposed increase of 15 per cent in Rockall Haddock is far lower than the scientific advice on this stock suggests as being sustainable."

Similarly the quotas provided for pelagic species such as Mackerel (up 12 per cent) are again "countered by massive cuts in Celtic Sea Herring (down 35 per cent), Northwest Herring, (down 27 per cent) and Horse Mackerel (down 15 per cent), according to FIF.

The federation also criticised the issue of days at sea reductions in the Irish Sea and in the Northwest proposed by the Commission.

It argues that the Commission must "take on board major industry generated initiatives in terms of conservation and management of the Celtic and Irish Seas" and not 'pull the rug' from under the industry which is awaiting recovery measures assessments due in 2007.

FIF Chairman Lorcán Ó'Cinnéide said: "Our industry in Ireland currently awaits the publication of a major Strategy Review which will of necessity involve a lot of pain on the part of the sector. Our negotiators at the forthcoming talks have to ensure that the Commission's furtherance of its current approach does not negate all the work that has been done."

"We note that that the detailed input of the Regional Advisory Councils on quotas, into which we have had major input along with our EU partner industries and indeed environmental organisations, is not reflected in the EU's proposals at this time due to time constraints, but we expect that these will be fully considered at the talks themselves."

Mr Ó Cinnéide added: "However, it is all to play for at this point. We have meetings scheduled with the Minister and his officials next week and we will continue to work assiduously towards achieving a more sensible set of outcomes than is currently tabled"