Producer Organisation status for Ireland’s island fishers

The Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation has received official recognition as an EU Producer Organisation (PO).  IMMRO is based on Árainn Mhór island, Co Donegal, and represents the interests of island fishers throughout Ireland.

“In our Programme for Government, we committed to supporting the inshore fishing fleet in generating greater marketing and promotional capacity by facilitating the establishment of a PO for  these smaller fishing vessels,” remarked Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Recognition will provide additional opportunity for island and coastal communities involved in the inshore sector, he added.

In 2020, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine established a recognition criteria that must be satisfied by groups seeking recognition as a producer organisation.

“These were designed in particular to make it easier for inshore fishermen to achieve recognition. I expect further inshore POs my soon follow.”

Background

Seafood Producer Organisations are officially recognised bodies, established by groups of fishery or aquaculture producers to manage the activity of their members. They improve conditions for product placement on the market, improve economic returns for their members and stabilise the market.

POs also help to reduce unwanted catches an contribute to the elimination of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) fishing and help coordinate the activities of their members.

Regulation 1379/2013 on the Common Organisation of the Market for Fishery and Aquaculture Products provides an EU legal framework for the recognition of seafood producer organisations.