Coveney delivers €123m for fishermen but disappointment for some whitefish stocks
The Federation of Irish Fishermen says the outcome of annual fisheries talks was disappointing for key whitefish stocks in the Celtic Sea (cod, whiting and haddock) but welcomes the small increase in the nephrops (prawn) quota.
Chairman, Sean O’Donoghue was speaking following conclusion of the annual Council of Fisheries meeting in Brussels which sets quotas for European fishing fleets.
Minister Simon Coveney secures €123m whitefish deal for Irish fishermen in 2015. Photo Gillian Mills
Ahead of the meeting, the FIF had called on Minister Coveney to ensure the reversal of the Commission’s proposal to cut some key Irish stocks “which were neither justified nor warranted, and if adopted would lead to the loss of 500-600 fulltime and part-time jobs” in the fisheries sector and ancillaries services.
“We’re satisfied to the extent possible he has delivered on this call.”
He said the small increase in the nephrops quota would avoid some losses in employment and revenues:
“We fought tooth and nail in every available fora against the Commission’s proposal to implement huge unwarranted and unjustified cuts – for example, 14% in nephrops our second most valuable fishery; 64% cod and 41% haddock in the Celtic Sea.”
Mr O’Donoghue added these cuts were unnecessary and would only lead to increased discarding.
Pelagic stocks
Quota for mackerel, herring were decided in advance of the Brussels meeting.
“Our mackerel quota, our most important economic fishery for next year of 89,220 tonnes, is welcomed and is the highest since quotas were introduced for mackerel in 1987.”
The FIF however totally disagrees to setting a zero TAC for herring off the Donegal coast for 2015. “It does not reflect the reality on the fishing grounds or the problems of mixing with an adjacent herring stock.”
But he added that a commitment to revisit the zero TAC in February following a thorough scientific review “leaves some hope for change”.
Justified increases
Contrary to previous years where “unwarranted” reductions were imposed on some stocks in the north-west, O’Donoghue says increases in haddock, monkish and megrim in the northwest are welcome and justified, “as are the rollover [in some] stocks notably monkfish, megrim, pollack in the Celtic Sea and the 11% increase in hake.”
The Hague Preference, which sees Ireland and the UK getting elevated quotas for a number of key species when reductions are proposed, were delivered as expected, due in part to the fact of stronger wording in the new CFP.
“Without the Hague Preference we would have taken a 26% cut in Celtic Sea cod instead of the 13%; however it is disappointing that the Council chose to implement a reduction in this stock given its economic importance and the positive scientific advice for the stock,” he said.
Behind the scenes
Prior to the Council meeting, the FIF had called on Minister Coveney to deliver on his statement to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and Marine (2/12) that he would not support cuts where additional information was available to inform decisions and where there was a real risk of generating higher discard levels than at present.
“I am satisfied that Minister Coveney tried to deliver on this commitment; however the reductions are disappointing. I wish to recognise that Minister Coveney and his officials worked very closely with the industry both before and during the Council and took on board our well-founded concerns and advice.”
Following 48 hours of talks, Minister Coveney said he was “relieved” he had managed to turn “an extremely worrying proposal into a much improved outcome for the Irish whitefish industry. “
The overall result is a long way from the Commission’s original proposal of 20% reduction in whitefish quotas, involving a direct income reduction of €18m for our fishermen.”
A proposed cut in the prawn quota of 14% was reversed and sees a 3% increase, following scientific advice.
“This was my number one priority heading into negotiations and it took a lot of effort to convince the Commission of the merits of our arguments.”
At a glance
Agreement also sees an 11% increase in the hake fishery and status quo of monkfish and mergrim stocks, giving a total landing value of €27m to the whitefish fleet operating in the Celtic Sea.
Proposed cuts in cod (64%) and haddock (41%) in the Celtic Sea were successfully reduced “to more manageable levels” due to an Irish industry initiative to introduce new fishing gear in 2015 that will allow more young fish to escape.
“It is estimated this initiative will reduce discards of haddock and whiting in the Celtic Sea by some 4,000 tonnes per year – a 30% reduction in total discards of these stocks,” said Minister Coveney.
He added that the initiative would assist greatly in providing a “solid basis for the growth of these fish stocks in the Celtic Sea” and should support quota increases in the years ahead.
“The fishing industry should be commended for their initiative,” Minister Coveney said.
Highlights
North-west:
• 20% increase in monkfish quota
• minor increase for the megrim quota
• doubling of the Rockall haddock quota
• 14 % increase in Donegal haddock for the ports of Greencastle and Killybegs
South and West coasts and the Irish Sea:
• 3% increase in the €60 million prawn fishery which benefits the ports of Clogherhead, Howth, Union Hall, Castletownbere, Dingle and Ros a Mhil.
South-west:
• 11% increase in hake
• no change in monkfish and megrim (€27m fishery, mainly important for the Castletownbere and Dingle Mixed whitefish fisheries off the south and west coasts:
• 12 % reduction in haddock
• 13% cut in cod
• 12% reduction in whiting
