The Irish Fish Producers’ Organisation has called for co-operation and collaboration collaboration to tackle “the current and growing imbalance between EU and non-EU Members fishing rights.
The Chief Executive of the IFPO, Aodh O’Donnell, who is in London today for a Coastal States meeting, says that EU coastal states are losing out to non-EU members because the European Commission’s scientifically informed approach to quotas is subject to abuse by rogue Nordic players. The result of this approach is that the EU is losing its share of mackerel and blue whiting.”
Last week this issue was raised at meetings in Brussels and is being made a central issue to what the Irish industry considers as “not just a matter of inequity, this practice poses a serious threat to the sustainability of European fish stocks.”
“The Minister for the Marine has taken on board our concerns, but much still needs to be done. Government and industry representatives need to collaborate to level the playing field.”
Mr O’Donnell said the EU had indicated it would take a strong attitude on the issue but must do more than that and “must deliver,” he told me.