Job losses ahead warns fishermen’s representative
In stark contrast to recent job creation announcements, the seafood sector faces job losses, Eibhlin O'Sullivan, CEO of the Irish South & West Fishermen's Producer Organisation has warned.
Ms O'Sullivan's remarks follow the EU Commission's proposals for 2015 fishing TACs and quotas, which she said contained "significant reductions" for key whitefish and pelegic species.
Whitefish ports such as Castletownbere face an uncertain future if proposed cuts in whitefish and pelagic stocks are implemented. Photo Gillian Mills
"I am aware that to most people it seems like each year...we warn that the Irish fishing industry will be decimated as a result of the Commission's proposals... But what most people not directly involved in the industry don't realise is that many fishermen are being forced to leave the industry and are now unemployed."
Coveney meets French counterpart to discuss shared fisheries
Marine minister, Simon Coveney, has met his French counterpart, Alain Vidalies, to discuss shared fisheries in the Celtic Sea ahead of the annual Fisheries Council to set the 2015 fish quotas.
Outlining management issues, Minister Coveney said that the Irish and French industries have a "strong working relationship" and he wanted to ensure that this relationship was 'fully reflected" at political level.
"The EU Commission proposes very severe cuts to key cod and haddock fisheries. I agreed with Minister Vidalies that we will work closely...to secure agreement on a package of measures involving improved selectivity measures and set quota levels that take into account the most up-to-date scientific advice."
ACRUNET group meets in Bristol
Norah Parke, Network Coordinator
Seafish, the agency that works with the UK seafood industry to promote good quality, sustainable seafood, and which is a prominent player in the ACRUNET network, hosted the seventh ACRUNET Partners Meeting in Bristol in October.
Addressing the delegates at the opening session, Marcus Jacklin (Seafish) observed that another major achievement had been the "high level of collaboration and cooperation displayed between partners”.
He added that the value of the network had developed and progressed its stakeholder-wide role at group level rather than partners following narrower objectives at individual level. This resulted in a collaborative platform which enabled discussions and initiatives to be developed in a very effective and cooperative fashion that could, potentially, be adopted by other regional groups.
Northern Ireland’s fisheries minister challenges proposed cut in 2015 haddock quota
Northern Ireland's fisheries minister, Michelle O'Neill, has met with industry representatives and her UK counterpart, George Eustice MP, ahead of the Council of Ministers December negotiations on 2015 fishing opportunites.
"I am disappointed that the European Commission is proposing a cut in the Irish Sea haddock quota of 20% because of the lack of a full stock assessment. There is a case to be made to minimise the cut," she said.
Northern Ireland's Fisheries Minister Michelle O'Neill in talks with George Eustice MP, Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
She added that the fishery provided a "useful alternative for a few vessels and helped to take the pressure off the prawn stock.
European Fisheries Control Agency adopts four year work progrmame
The EFCA has adopted its €9.2m work programme 2015-2019 which will focus on 'effective assistance to Member States and the Commission in the implementation of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy.'
The programme offers a renewed approach of cooperation with the ultimate goal of enhancing 'a culture of compliance in the CFP and achieving a level playing field in the most cost-effective way', it says.
EFCA board members
According to the agency, the new CFP offers 'significant changes relating to landing obligation for catches, new international requirements and in fight against IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) activies'.
It also provides technical experise, brokers cooperation and gives the necessary support to MS and the Commission to implement the control regime. The programme also supports training for trainers and inspectors and develops innovative data management systems.
Coveney secures EU measures to offset Russian ban on fishery imports
At today's EU Fisheries Council, Ireland's marine minister Simon Coveney secured the agreement of Council and the Commission to bank 25% of 2014 fishing quotas for 2015, to help mitigate the impact of the Russian ban on importation of fishery products.
The banking option applies to mackerel, horse-mackerel and Celtic Sea herring stocks - the stocks directly impacted by the Russian imports ban. The measure is supported by positive scientific advice that it will not adversely impact stock sustainabiliy.
“I have listened to our industry and the difficulties those fishing Celtic Sea herring, mackerel and horse mackerel are experiencing...The price for herring has dropped significantly for this autumn fishery and I want to give the industry the option of banking part of the quota until prices improve," he said.
ICES advice for pelagic stocks, 2015
Francis O'Donnell, IFPO
Mackerel: ICES proposes a catch of between 831,000-906,000MT as per the existing management plan, which represents a reduction of between 35% - 40% from the TAC of 2014 (1,240,000MT). The Pelagic Advisory Council has recommended that the MSY approach (maximum sustainable yield) is followed which would give a TAC of 1,017,000MT (25% decrease).
Horse Mackerel: The scientific advice is for a TAC of 99.304MT, representing a reduction of 27% from the 2014 TAC of 133,230MT. ICES however only recommended a TAC of 110,000MT in 2014 but this changed at the December Council when the Pelagic RAC advice was accepted. This will not happen in 2015.
Killybegs: Ireland's pelagic stronghold. Photo Gillian Mills
Blue Whiting: ICES recommended a TAC of 839,886-1,130,000MT; the lower figure would represent a reduction of 30% from 2014 (1,200,000MT). There is a caveat however whereby the harvest control rule in the Management Plan is at 0.18 ( target fishing mortality) but there was agreement that this figure was too low. If the Commission was to use the MSY principle, we would have a TAC of 1,326,000 MT but it is more likely it will increase the HCR to 0.25 or 0.30, which would give a TAC of 1,130,000MT - 1,500,000MT.
‘Moderate’ decrease in deep-sea fishing quotas for 2015-2016
Total allowable catch proposals 2015-2016 for deep-sea stocks in EU and international waters in the North-East Atlantic see an increase in four stocks, a decrease in nine stocks and the status quo for five stocks, in line with scientific advice.
"Deep sea ecosystems and fish stocks are particularly vulnerable to human activities, such as fishing, and need appropriate protection. Hence, sustainable management is the only way we can ensure the future of deep-sea fisheries," remarked European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki.
EU assurance for fisheries sector following Russian trade ban
European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki, has given assurance that the European Commission 'stands ready to support the fisheries sector' and possibly shift unused fishing quotas to 2015, following Russia’s announcement on August 7 to ban imports of certain fisheries products from the European Union.
In a letter addressed to Italian Minister Maurizio Martina and the Chair of the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee, Alain Cadec, Commissioner Damanaki said the EU can provide financial support and could maybe shift unused fishing quotas to 2015.