Compensation call for storm battered fishermen

The Federation of Irish Fishemren (FIF) has called on marine minister Simon Coveney to put in place an adequate compensation scheme for fishermen who have suffered “significant losses” as a result of severe weather conditions since mid December.

Relentless Atlantic storms that battered Ireland’s western and sourth seaboards were also felt in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin. Photo Gillian Mills

“We welcome the scheme for inshore fishermen announced by Minister Coveney last week; however we pointed out that we feel the scheme is inadequate in the wake of the losses experienced by fishermen,” remarked FIF chair, Sean O’Donoghue.

“Under Article 33 (c)1 of the recently agreed European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF), Member States can pay financial compensation to fishermen for economic losses caused by adverse climatic events under certain conditions.

“While the fund will not be formally put in place until later on in the year, it allows payments to be back dated to January 1, 2014. We are therefore calling on Minister Coveney to utilise this provision to put in place an adequate compensation scheme as a matter of urgency, which hopefully will allow fishermen who are currently on the brink of financial ruin to remain in business and support themselves, their families and the rural coastal, peripheral communities who rely on them.”