Allister meets Kilkeel fishermen
25 March 2009
TUV MEP Jim Allister was in Kilkeel on Thursday, meeting with senior representatives of Anglo North Irish Fish Producers Organisation. Mr Allister, a member of the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee, was keen to receive a further update from local fishermen on a range of live issues, in particular days at sea.
The MEP commented on his meeting,
“Our discussions mainly centred around how local fishermen can fully utilise quotas in light of the days at sea setback announced as part of December’s fisheries negotiations. There remains deep uncertainty around the actual days at sea fishermen will be allocated, which is something I am calling on DARD to address.”
“While fishermen have seen fishing quotas much reduced over a number of years, reductions in days at sea is a worrying new development. I am aware that the Dutch appear to have devised a mechanism which could reduce the impact of days at sea reductions, with Commission consent. This is something which I intend to explore on behalf of the Northern Ireland industry.”
ENDS