Fears are growing within Ireland’s fishing communities that dozens of vessels could leave the national fleet following a new EU quota agreement, with possible knock on effects for ports such as Clogherhead.
Industry representatives have warned that up to 50 Irish trawlers may exit the sector as a result of the deal. The warning was issued by Patrick Murphy, chief executive of the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation, who strongly criticised the outcome of negotiations at EU level.
There are currently around 140 Irish fishing boats over 15 metres in length operating nationally. Under the revised quota arrangements, the overall value of Ireland’s fishing quota is expected to fall from €220 million to €126 million by 2026, amounting to a reduction of approximately 43 percent in revenue.
Mr Murphy said he expects the Government and the EU to introduce a further decommissioning scheme, which he believes could encourage around 50 older skippers to leave the industry.
“I would urge the Government to challenge this fisheries deal at the European Court of Justice but I suspect they won’t do it.
“Four countries Germany, France, Holland and Poland all got together after being lobbied by other fishing groups to block us from appealing the decision through a mechanism that was there for 49 years called The Hague Preferences.
“What we are witnessing is the genocide of our fishing and coastal communities. Europe is broken. The EU is just like Putin only they use the pen instead of the gun to invade our waters.
“We fish 15pc of the stock in our own waters, Europe takes 70pc while Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands get the rest.”
He warned that the loss of further vessels would have long term consequences for coastal towns and villages, with fishing livelihoods potentially disappearing for generations.
“What is happening is a race to the bottom and Ireland is being shafted. The Irish people need to wake up to what is happening to their fishing industry.
“A new financial deal will be offered to skippers to leave the business and sadly with the way we are being treated, a lot of the older guys will probably take it.”
Concerns have also been raised by the prawn fishing fleet in Clogherhead, where crews fear the agreement could result in job losses. Representatives of the fleet said that in 2023 the local fishing industry generated close to €59 million and supported 294 jobs within the village.
In a statement, the Clogherhead trawlermen and women said:
“This deal done in Brussels will have a very negative effect on turnover and potentially lead to job losses in the area.
“Belgium for example which has a coastline approximately the same size as County Louth will have a sole quota of 450 tonnes off the south coast of Ireland and the Irish boats will be only allowed to catch 28 tonnes in our own waters.
“Sole is an important by catch to the Clogherhead prawn boats. The Mackerel quota has been reduced by 70pc which we fear will mean that the traditional mackerel boats will diversify into prawn fishing to make up for lost income which will add more pressure on already reduced fishing opportunities in this fishery which the Clogherhead fleet rely on.”
The group has called on the Government to challenge both the quota agreement and the decision to block an appeal under the Hague Preferences mechanism at European level. To date, the Government has not confirmed whether it intends to take legal action.
