Campbell presided over demise of eel fishermen's livelihoods -Allister
09 February 2009
Ulster MEP Jim Allister has hit out at DCAL Minister, Gregory Campbell for presiding over a change in DCAL policy which, according to the MEP, has “accelerated the demise of eel fishing in Lough Erne”.
The MEP said,
“I have obtained a minute of a meeting held on 21st October last year, between AFBI, Marine Institute, NRFB and ESB at Ballyshannon to discuss the Erne Eel Management Plan. During that meeting, Northern Ireland representatives pointed out that “the stated policy in the NI portion of the catchment is phased closure with natural wastage and ageing of fishermen, and non re-issue of lapsing permits and licences… anything else could be asked for by the ROI groups through cross-border consultation but would require a process of consultation and policy change in NI, agreed at Ministerial level…this is unlikely to happen quickly.” However, DCAL has since submitted an eel management plan to the European Commission, which will result in the Erne being completely closed to eel fishing.”
“I am seriously concerned that Northern Ireland eel fishermen were not consulted on the decision to shift from a policy of phased closure to one of total ban. Furthermore, it would seem that the Minister has had to approve this shift in policy. I have written to the Minister, asking him 4 questions which I believe he is obliged to answer, in the interests of accountability:
1. What processes were entered into to effect a clear reversal to that established policy?
2. What representations were made by the Republic of Ireland to press for a change in that policy of natural wastage and phased closured, and in what forums did this take place?
3. What consultation took place to discuss the potential impact of this change in policy towards total closure of the NI portion of the catchment from eel fishing, after the 21st October meeting?
4. When was Ministerial assent given at Northern Ireland level to this change in policy?
The same minute states: ‘ESB expressed reluctance to fund an operation of anything like the scale that would be required to meet the Eel regulation requirements’.
“I note with grave concern ESB’s reluctance to fund an operation ‘anything like the scale required to meet the eel regulation requirements’. I have reminded the Minister that ESB is the true cause of the problem in terms of its hydro turbines causing an unacceptably high mortality rate among eels within the river area concerned.”
“These minutes are the clearest revelation yet that Minister Campbell has presided over a reversal of established DCAL policy, as a result of pressure from the Republic of Ireland, sacrificing the interests of Northern Ireland eel fishermen to the commercial interests of ESB in Ireland in the process. I utterly condemn such an approach.”
ENDS
