Allister calls foul on EU fishing policy
01 September 2009
TUV Leader Jim Allister, who for 5 years served on the Fisheries Committee in Brussels and who retains his close interest in the future of the Northern Ireland industry, has expressed exasperation with EU and ICES authorities over their continuing negativity to Irish Sea fishing. “Fishermen have done everything asked of them by Europe, they’ve taken the medicine prescribed, but still we see no improvement. Now, having encouraged diversification from whitefish into prawns, Europe is psyching itself up to attack our prawn quota”, declared Mr Allister. With Brussels flexing its muscles to demand full closure of certain fisheries, the former MEP has countered that any closures must mean full compensation for all affected.
In a statement the Mr Allister said:-
“The Irish Sea has borne the brunt of every EU cut in fishing for a decade now. Cod recovery was instigated in the Irish Sea in 2000, 3 years before it was extended to other waters around the British Isles, spawning closures, reduced TACs, technical conservation measures, fishing vessel decommissioning, tie-up schemes and effort control have all been deployed. The TAC for Irish Sea cod has been cut by 84% in the last 10 years and the number of whitefish trawlers in the Northern Ireland fleet has been cut by 90% plus.
But this slash and burn policy from Europe has failed lamentably, because they claim the stock is now at its lowest ever level. So, if ever a policy had failed, it is the folly of the last 10 years. But Brussels and ICES can never admit to being wrong, so what do they now recommend, more of the same with another unbearable 25% TAC reduction and another 25% cut in effort.
Encouraged by Europe and DARD the industry inevitably reshaped into heavy dependence on nephrops. Now, amazingly and despite the 2008 and 2009 catch of prawns being at record levels and the findings of its own Irish Sea Working Group, ICES now tell us the Area 7 prawn stock is being depleted and that in 2010 the TAC should be reduced by 45%. The stock abundance evident in the catch levels makes a nonsense of ICES’ stance, but, nonetheless we can expect an effort by Brussels to now target our prawn quotas. This must be resisted with all the vigour necessary to see it defeated.
The EU constantly asserts it wants to see a sustainable, economically viable fishing industry, yet its every move drags us in the opposite direction. I fear there is an embedded agenda in Brussels and in DEFRA which sees the future in aquaculture, rather than sea fishing. Such is not acceptable. But, if the EU and DARD continue to squeeze the life out of our industry then they must be made to face up to the economic consequences for whole coastal communities.
When Brussels set about restructuring farming, it brought in the Single Farm Payment as a financial aid for farmers. Based on historic production levels, it affords farmers a cushion against enforced change. Likewise, if fishing is to be squeezed as intended, then there must be compensatory payments to every sector of the industry. The upcoming CFP reform needs to be open to such. You can’t rob fishermen of their livelihoods and evade the responsibilities which result.
So any closure of fisheries must be matched by payments to sustain the industry till the recovery in stock, which Brussels says will result from closure, takes place. If this was the economic price of closure for the EU and DARD, then they would not be so quick to wantonly indulge in needless closures and restrictions. No closures without matching compensation is both fair and right.”
