Denis O’Donovan (FF) called for an urgent debate on the fishing industry. He said the whitefish fleet was at crisis point, adding that in the past couple of days 15 boats were tied up at Kilmore Quay at the request of the sea fishery protection agency (SFPA).
“That is a ludicrous situation. Two boats had fish over-quota but the SFPA tied up the entire fleet, a total of 21 boats, and put 115 jobs at risk.’’
Mr O’Donovan said whitefish quotas were totally inadequate, adding it was a hereditary issue and he was not being political. In the past 40 years fishermen had worked with their hands tied behind their backs, and this was recognised by fishing associations all the way from Rossaveal to the south coast and up to Kilmore Quay and Howth.
"If the SFPA and the authorities want to work rigorously within the law, every boat from Donegal to Castletownbere to Howth will be tied up, day in, day out, because we do not have the quota.''
He said last year the French were entitled to take 24,000 tons of monkfish from Irish waters, the UK 14,000 tons, but Ireland could take a mere 2,300 tons. Half of the trawlers and half of the fishermen had gone from the port of Castletownbere, which was close to where he lived.
He said some 700 people were employed in the fishing industry in the region, either directly or processing on the shore, and half of those jobs would go.
Supporting Mr O'Donovan, Brian O Domhnaill (FF) said it was dreadful to think that foreign fishing vessels could enter Irish waters and catch a fish species when our boats could not and were tied up due to quota restrictions.
