Cork fishermen have gone viral after appearing on a worldwide news broadcast to discuss Russia’s planned offshore military drills.
CNN correspondent Donie O’Sullivan — who hails from Kerry — tweeted a clip of the interview he conducted with the fishers in Castletownbere last night (Saturday 29 January) following Russia’s agreement to move its planned live-fire exercises out of Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
Yesterday evening, Foreign Affairs and Defence Minister Simon Coveney confirmed the move. This was followed by a statement from the Russian ambassador which described the decision to relocate the exercises as “a gesture of goodwill” following requests from the Irish Government and the Irish South and West Fish Producers’ Association (IS&WFPO).
Some happy fishermen -- we are live tonight from Castletownbere where the fishermen who were prepared to stand up to the Russian navy are celebrating. pic.twitter.com/Ay9dEiZZF8
— Donie O'Sullivan (@donie) January 29, 2022
The ambassador met with fishing industry representatives on Thursday (27 January) to hear their concerns surrounding the manoeuvres, which had been planned for an area in international waters on the continental shelf but within Ireland’s EEZ and close to important fishing grounds.
O’Sullivan was joined on air by Alan Carleton and Patrick Murphy, the latter of whom was at the meeting with Ambassador Yuriy Filatov in Dublin.
On the prospect of Irish trawlers coming face-to-face with the Russian navy, Murphy said: “There’s enough families around here that have lost their loved ones to the sea, and that’s enough of a danger to be facing without going out and facing a military exercise.”
He added: “We have to thank the Russians for acknowledging that we played a small part in this. That’s good for us.”
#Statement by the Ambassador of Russia to Ireland H.E. Yuriy #Filatov pertaining to the planned naval exercises by the Russian #Navy in the Atlantic pic.twitter.com/XCInkgQ5GN
— Russia in Ireland (@Rus_Emb_Ireland) January 29, 2022
Carleton, meanwhile, expressed his relief that fish stocks in the area will no longer be impacted “as live fire will case problems with the fish”.
Asked by O’Sullivan if the move is proof that fishermen diplomacy works, Murphy resoponded: “It seems to.”
Regarding the impact on marine wildlife, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group said they are pleased with the decision “which should reduce exposure of deep-diving species along the shelf edge to this exercise.
“We hope future military exercises e.g. by the UK and NATO will also considered their environmental impacts,” the group added.