The Commercial Lobby at work....

The commercial sector is strong and does not stop chipping away. Bass might seem a lost cause for commercials in the current climate but you look at the press release from a meeting today.......They have not gone away you know!

From the Skipper Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheSkipperOnline?fref=nf

IS&WFPO welcomes opportunity to highlight Irish Fishing Industry Issues to Commissioner Vella
Eibhlin O’Sullivan, CEO of the Irish South & West Fish Producers Organisation Ltd. (IS&WFPO), was today present at a meeting between the EU Commissioner for Fisheries, Karmenu Vella and Irish MEP on the Fisheries Committee Liadh Ni Riada.
“At the meeting the difficulties and indeed, dangers currently facing the Irish Fishing Industry and in particular the Whitefish Fleet were highlighted to Commissioner Vella. The IS&WFPO also discussed the lack of a level playing field in terms of control and enforcement currently being experienced by the Industry” commented Eibhlin O’Sullivan.
“At the meeting there was also a lengthy discussion in relation to the implementation of the Landing Obligation and in particular, the complexities of same from a whitefish fisheries point of view. We brought to the Commissioners attention our fear that if the Industry is not supported in the implementation it will not survive” continued Ms. O’Sullivan “ Again, we reiterated that the lack of a level playing field already highlighted by us may lead to increased difficulties in this implementation for Irish fishing vessels.”
“Issues such as the current national ban in Ireland on fishing for Seabass and compensation for fishermen when severe weather prevents them from fishing for extended periods of time were also discussed with the Commissioner.”
“Commissioner Vella demonstrated a welcome knowledge of the Industry and the challenges facing it and an openness to listening to any viable solutions. We would like to thank Liadh Ni Riada for actively highlighting the issues facing the Industry and her commitment to her work on the Fisheries Committee.”

Interesting last sentence. Hopefully all the anglers who live in or fish in Ms Ni Riada's constituency will be emailing her to point out that the big bucks fishing industry is not the underdog here.

Great point hugo!

“Issues such as the current national ban in Ireland on fishing for Seabass and compensation for fishermen when severe weather prevents them from fishing for extended periods of time were also discussed with the Commissioner.”

They possibly "discussed" how much this contributes towards leisure angling and the money this attracts to the country via tourism? They possibly also acknowledged in their discussions the contributions the commercial ban, closed season and bag limit have made to stocks (other factors notwithstanding), how these are the envy of all UK bass anglers, and seen as a good example by them? Cos a "discussion" would tend to look at both sides of the coin, right?

Possibly...... but I very much doubt it.

PS...Nice work Jim!