Overall status quo on 2005 whitefish quotas

The Irish whitefish industry has broadly welcomed the outcome of the annual TAC and quota negotiations; however a 27% cut in the mackerel quota has been hailed ‘an absolute disaster’ by the pelagic industry.

In his first major engagement as marine minister, Pat the cope Gallagher said he was “reasonably satisfied with the outcome”, but did acknowledge that the situation was not “ideal” across all stocks. “I know that reductions in some species, especially mackerel, are going to have a negative impact for some fishermen in the short-term,” he said.

An industry-led conservation plan for Celtic Sea cod by the UK, France and Ireland sees a three-month closure in a 4,500 sq mile zone off the Waterford coast until the end of March. A last minute derogation to Belgium, however, will allow their beamer fleet to fish this zone for one month during this closure.

Jason Whooley, manager of the Irish South & West Fishermen’s Organisation (IS&WFO) said the plan would not only greatly enhance cod stocks but also other stocks in the area.

He added, however, that Belgium’s insistence that beam trawlers should be allowed fish in either January or March “greatly weakened its conservation benefit. This will not go down well with other fishermen who have volunteered to stay out of the area. Nonetheless, it is significant that for the first time in EU fisheries management, an industry conservation proposal has been adopted by the Council of Ministers. Even more significantly, this plan was not deemed necessary by the scientific community. The industry chose to pursue the matter themselves,” he said.

The ISWFO manager paid special tribute to Pat the cope Gallagher: “We’re delighted with his performance at his first December Council. His knowledge of the industry and overall commitment was critical in securing this deal”.

Tom Geoghegan of the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association (IFPEA) expressed satisfaction on increase for the nephrops (prawn) fishery on which Irish fish merchants and processors catering to home and export “so much depend”, he said.

Quotas increases across key stocks include monkfish (+20% to its highest level in five years); haddock (+ 20%); hake (+9% and prawns (+12%). The total aggregate volume of whitefish is 33,106 tonnes being a -0.7% change on 2004 quotas.