MEP slams Commission's proposals on fish quotas
03 December 2007
Jim Allister MEP has expressed his deep disappointment that once more, under the disastrous Common Fisheries Policy, the EU is set to try and again devastate Northern Ireland’s fishing industry by unwarranted cuts in our quotas and days at sea limits. Today Mr Allister has protested to Commissioner Borg and called for a realistic reappraisal in advance of the quota-setting Council meeting on 18 December.
In a statement Mr Allister said:-
“Fundamentally, I am very disappointed about the approach to the Irish Sea. Days at sea restrictions were introduced in the Irish Sea as an addition to the closure in 2004. The Irish Sea remains the only sea area in Europe that has such a plethora of “recovery measures”. It is clear they have failed, yet the EC persist with their application. In previous years the remnants of the local whitefish fleet were compensated with additional days at sea in lieu of the closure. There is uncertainty whether or not these days will be awarded in 2008.
In addition to the proposed reduction in the cod quota, the Commission is seeking a 25% cut in the Irish Sea whiting quota, a 25% reduction in the sole quota, a 6% reduction in the plaice quota, an 8% reduction in the herring quota and finally a 15% reduction in the haddock quota. This final proposal is all the more absurd because haddock stocks are at a new high.
The proposed reductions with plaice, herring and haddock are contrary to the science. Even if the haddock quota was increased by 15%, this would only return us to the quota we had in 2006, so in overall terms despite the accepted abundance of haddock, our fishermen would not be allowed to catch any more than they did last year, and possibly less as they will not be allowed to spend as much time at sea.
Last year, the small mesh or prawn fisheries to the West of Scotland had no reduction in their days, while the similar fisheries in the North Sea and Irish Sea did, because it was argued that they were responsible for a greater level of discards. Yet this year a 25% reduction in days is proposed for West of Scotland trawlers, as it is for all trawlers in the Irish Sea. There is a lack of consistency in the EC’s approach between sea areas.
In brief, the result in terms of days is at follows. In 2004 (the year effort control was introduced to the Irish Sea), 2005 and 2006 trawlers targeting prawns and using the same gear in the North Sea, West of Scotland and Irish Sea were awarded the same number of days. In 2004 this was 264 days. The EC has proposed that in 2008 the same trawlers, with the same gears will be awarded 184 days in the North Sea, 170 days in the West of Scotland and 153 days in the Irish Sea. This is unfair.
It is imperative that the UK rejects these proposals and holds out for a significant increase in plaice, herring and haddock, as well as reversing the rolling cuts in days at sea. Otherwise our industry will disappear without trace. Sometimes I think this is the goal of Brussels.”
