The fact that the European Commission has granted some Non-Eu countries bigger fishing quotas than Ireland tells us all we need to know about the disdain with which how our Irish fishing industry is being held.
Aontú Senator Sarah O’Reilly says the once vibrant and thriving\g fishing industry is literally drowning under the impact of European policies, each one creating more and more devastation.
She says
“Belgium’s coastline is barely longer than Wicklow’s and yet they get 16 TIMES the quota granted to Irish fishermen. Our waters are rich but our fishermen can’t fish them. They must sit with their boats tied and watch while other countries like Norway, Iceland and the Faroes pillage and plunder our natural resources.
Our fishing sector is estimated to lose €200 million next year
“The Hague Preferences, which came into being solely to protect the Irish fishing industry are clearly not worth the paper they are written on as the latest EU fishing quota agreement will signal the end for so many of our fishing industries and those supported by them. We are a net contributor to Europe since 2013 – WHAT is in it for US?
Our waters are one of our best natural and national resources, but they are being carved up which is one of the greatest injustices ever visited on our country and its people. And given that consecutive governments have sold out our sugar beet farmers and our turf cutters that’s really saying something . They have sat back and watched our country be robbed. Countries like Norway make €15 BILLION a year on seafood exports but our fishermen have to rely on subsidies. Where is the fairness for Ireland, are we at the table at all?
Irish fishing quotas, as determined by the European Union’s Common Fisheries Policy, are far far lower than those allocated to non-EU countries that share access to the same waters. While Ireland is restricted to a small percentage of certain valuable stocks such as mackerel and whitefish, non-EU nations like Norway and Iceland often secure larger shares of these quotas through bilateral agreements with the EU. This disparity means Irish fishermen are subject to much tighter catch limits, despite Ireland’s extensive coastline and traditional dependence on fishing, placing them at a considerable disadvantage compared to their non-EU counterparts.
The Irish fishing industry has long been the backbone of our coastal towns, supporting thousands of jobs and sustaining our cultural heritage,”
Yet, European decisions continue to undermine our fishing industry stripping those working in the industry of fair quotas and making it impossible to compete. This latest blow is not just an economic issue—it is an attack on our way of life, our people and I for one am sick of it”.
I am stunned and shocked that our hardworking, brave and dedicated fishermen who go out in all weathers to try and eke out a living are being cast out and treated with such contempt.
In recent months, a series of new European Union measures have been introduced that significantly impact Ireland’s fishing sector. Chief among these is the further reduction of quotas allocated to Irish vessels, particularly for key species such as mackerel, haddock, and whiting. These quota cuts stem from ongoing renegotiations of the Common Fisheries Policy and post-Brexit agreements, which have diverted a larger share of valuable stocks to other member states at Ireland’s expense.
We need our Irish Government to finally grow a backbone on this and stand up for our fishing industry. We need all parties to come together and act in unity otherwise we can wave bye bye to our proud fishing industry and tradition .The EU speaks of solidarity but there has been no solidarity for Irish fishermen. They have been totally abandoned. We have no option but to take a stand and make it clear to the EU that the Irish people are not PUSHOVERS.
