Fishermen's Federation to Meet EU Fisheries Commissioner – Fishupdate.com

Fishermen’s Federation to Meet EU Fisheries Commissioner Published:  01 December, 2008

The Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) has secured an important meeting with Commissioner Joe Borg, on Wednesday next, in advance of the crucial December meeting of EU fisheries ministers, where the Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for 2009 will be determined. The federation will be highlighting the unacceptability of the proposed ban on white fishing off the NW coast, unnecessary cuts in the 2009 prawn quota and concerns over herring quotas.

Federation Chairman Gerard O’Flynn said: ‘The proposal to prohibit fishing for cod, haddock and whiting off the NW coast (Area 6a) is most alarming. This was announced without going through the normal consultation process and there is no evidence of any socio economic impact study being conducted. Should this proposal become reality it will wipe out large sections of the white fish industry off the NW coast of Ireland.

‘Both its content and method of announcement leave much to be desired. The federation will impress on the commissioner that proposals to cut the 2009 nephrops TAC are completely unnecessary as the stock is recognised to be in a very good state and that the proposals arise from use of a bizarre rule relating to averaging of catches.

Proposals in relation to ray and skate would impact heavily on sections of the Irish industry and quota cuts are unjustified. Concerns about poor scientific information in relation to north west herring and the adverse impact on blue whiting fishing arising from EU arrangement with Norway will also be raised.

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