Blue whiting 2020 quota gives ‘stability’ to Irish fishermen

Agreement reached between the EU, Norway, the Faroe Islands and Iceland on the 2020 blue whiting fishery, yields a small increase to 38,500 tonnes (€11.5m) for Irish fishermen and gives “stability” in uncertain times, according to Michael Creed, Minister for the marine.

The total allowable catch of 1,161,616 tonnes is “fully in line with the scientific advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas”.

The Irish South and West Fish Producer’s Organisation has however criticised the Minister, saying that 18 individuals owning 23 fishing boats will receive 91% of the national quota:

Twenty-seven other fishermen holding the same licence entitlements will be “forced into a lottery” where eight “lucky recipients” will each get a maximum of 400 tonnes against 1,525 tonnes going to each of the 23 “guaranteed” RSW (refrigerated salt water) sector segment boats.

The remaining 19 boats not in the protected RSW segment “will get nothing and will remain tied to the pier wall”, argues  ISWFPO chief executive, Patrick Murphy.

“So, when the Minister speaks of stability for our fisheries sector in these uncertain times, exactly what fishery sector is he talking about?”