Fishermen 'kept in the dark' over EU deal to allow Iceland fish in Irish waters
Linehan Organisation Proposed South Dan And Producers File Picture: And Utter Patrick 'a Mess' Chief West Was The Executive Plete Said Murphy Fish Deal
Fishermen have called for more openness on Iceland's bid to fish in Irish waters amid ongoing talks in Europe.
Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation chief executive Patrick Murphy said the industry first heard rumours last June about informal talks taking place about Iceland fishing in EU waters.
It is not clear when Irish officials were first approached about Iceland’s desire for access to EU waters to fish for blue whiting and mackerel.
Mr Murphy said: “Right from the start, we have been kept in the dark.
“Since we found out, however, the back and forth with the minister and his department has been clouded in confusion.
“We don’t know fully what is or what isn’t being said on our behalf.
“We are afraid Iceland will get a similar deal to the one Norway already has.”
That deal allows Norwegian fishermen to fish for 224,000 tonnes of blue whiting here.
In contrast, Ireland is only allowed to catch a fraction of this in its own water.
In return for Norway fishing in EU waters, it gives about 10,000 tonnes of cod, worth about €40m to the EU Commission, as a type of ‘toll’ payment.
Ireland gets just 300 tonnes of cod, which is worth a little over €1m, despite the fact Norway predominantly fishes in Irish waters under the deal with the EU.
When the minister and departmental officials met fishing industry representatives in a virtual meeting on October 27, they said the EU Commission was proposing to give Iceland access to stocks of mackerel and blue whiting.
However, the industry was not keen at the time to do a deal involving mackerel or blue whiting.
Departmental negotiators are then understood to have told the EU Commission mackerel could not be part of any deal.
However, the EU Commission's proposal around blue whiting and mackerel was suddenly withdrawn after it became apparent it was not supported by other, bigger, EU states.
The Irish fishing industry then changed approach and told the minister it would only now accept a deal involving mackerel.
Mr Murphy said: “He has told us he doesn’t want to go back to Europe to do a deal involving mackerel because he has already told them mackerel is off the table.
“It’s a complete and utter mess.”
Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue told the : "I'm working at the European level to make sure our waters are respected.
"I speak on behalf of the Irish industry at the European level and only I speak on behalf of the Irish industry.
"You'll find within the industry that [there] can be different views and I consult and take on board the different views and then I set the course at European level that's going to deliver the best outcome for our country and for our fishing sector.”