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.”

She added that recent job announcements were mostly based in urban areas such as Dublin and Cork and were of “little benefit” to rural, coastal communnities that relied on fishing for their survival. 

“To them, the government’s job announcements are little more than salt in their wounds, coming less than a week after the Commission published its proposals for 2015 which, if implemented, will see the fishing industry lose somewhere in the region of €70m and the seafood sector a further €147m.”

And she added that should the proposals be implemented, an estimated 1,200 jobs will be lost.

“We are calling on government, and in particular Minister Coveney, to focus their attention on working with the industry to fight these proposed reductions, to keep these valuable jobs and allow these communities to survive.” 

Francis O’Donnell, Irish Fish Producers Organisation, added that the proposals were just a continuing erosion of Ireland’s fishing industry and communities:

“The massive cuts  for key species in the Celtic Sea will increase regulatory discards to an unprecedented level,” he warned.

“Large amounts of cod, haddock and whiting will be thrown away dead next year, lost to the economy and the ecosystem. How can we have confidence that a landing obligation can be implemented in 2016 for the demersal sector in a fair and equitable way?” he asked.

“Ireland needs a decommissioning scheme for certain. Most of the whitefish fleet are holding on by their nails. The current proposals will put many out of business next year.  It’s that simple.”