by John D » Mon Jul 18, 2005 8:05 am
Hello fellow anglers,
It seems as though the recent decommissioning of white fish fleets in Ireland has gone unnoticed on this web site. I was absoltuely delighted with the news. As far as I'm aware this can only be excellent news for the future of sea angling in Ireland. Any comments? See article below:
Government to buy out quarter of entire fishing fleet for €45m
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THE state is to buy out a quarter of the entire fishing fleet in an effort to make the industry viable for the remaining vessels.
Fishing organisations responded with delight to the announcement of a €45m decommissioning programme for older and larger whitefish and shellfish boats, which follows angry blockades of ports by scallop fishermen last month.
Announcing the scheme, which the Cabinet approved yesterday, Junior Marine Minister Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher said it would give most fishermen who remain in the industry better livelihoods, with more modern and safer boats.
"It has become increasingly evident to me that there are too many boats chasing too few fish and unless this fundamental imbalance is corrected, the viability of the entire industry is being seriously threatened," he said.
The new scheme will replace the more modest €9m decommissioning scheme announced in April and is based on the recommendations of former IDA chief Padraic White, who was asked to draw up a report following blockades of Rosslare and Waterford ports by scallop fishermen last month.
Mr White said the imbalance of too many boats and too few fish was the root cause of the industry's ills because it put pressure on stocks, created a volatile economic environment and caused a temptation to exceed fishing restrictions, leading to legal cases and penalties both for fishermen and for Ireland.
The decommissioning scheme was a "decisive major move" to tackle the problem once and for all and transform the industry, Mr White said.
The scheme aims to reduce the whitefish fleet tonnage by 25pc, specifically targetting boats over 18m and older than 15 years and to reduce the number of shellfish vessels over 15m by roughly half.
It should be introduced rapidly, commencing later this year and be substantially completed during 2006, Mr White said.
Boats catching monkfish, hake, megrim and scallops will be targetted first, followed by those fishing species under less pressure and the scheme will include a €1.5m hardship fund.
Ireland will have to seek approval from the EU Commission for the scheme and will seek as much funding as possible from that source but the Government is committed to the €45m in any case, said Mr Gallagher.
The scheme would be completely voluntary as the Government does not want to force people out and the aim would be to create room for fishermen who remained and fair financial support to those who wanted to leave.
The main cause was the decline in whitefish stocks and the reduction in quotas by almost 50pc since 1990, with similar difficulties in the scallop sector, he said.
Michael Walsh, of the South East Fishermens' Organisation, said the scheme was very welcome.
Lorcan O'Cinneide of the Irish Fish Producers' Organisation said he was very "pleasantly surprised" with the €45m scheme which would address the imbalance between resources and fleet size.
The new scheme was a very welcome but the devil would be in the detail, said Jason Whooley of the South West Fishermens' Organisation.
Aideen Sheehan
Protect the magical sport of sea angling and spread the word that conservation is the way forward. Put fish back!!!!