THE EU Fisheries Commissioner, Ms Emma Bonino, has criticised the Irish presidency's diplomatic attempts to tackle EU overfishing, but has said she is prepared to take a "flexible" approach to the particular problems of the Irish fishing industry.
In an interview yesterday with The Irish Times, the Commissioner revealed that she is examining new proposals to reduce the size of the EU fishing fleet, which would allow skippers to build new boats.
Under the proposals, which have still to be discussed with the Irish presidency, EU member states would be offered the incentive of building vessels, provided that double the matching tonnage in old craft was "scrapped".
Irish fishermen have argued that the EU restriction on boatbuilding has had serious safety implications, one example being the loss of six crew on the Carrickatine, a 30 year old boat, off the Donegal coast.
"I am just studying this idea," the Commissioner said. "I am flexible on finding a way out, but I will not concede on fleet reduction, because otherwise we will have overcapacity in three years' time.
Nor is she willing to concede on her demand for a 30 per cent cut in catches, she said. "I was not happy with the compromise proposed by Ireland at last week's EU fisheries council, because there must be a compulsory reduction in the size of the EU fleet," Ms Bonino said.
The Irish formula - which was designed to break the impasse on her demand for a 40 per cent cut over six years in the size of the EU fishing fleet - proposed optional fleet trimming and/or reduction in fishing effort, with particular focus on stocks under pressure.
"I cannot rely on reduction in fishing activity alone," the Commissioner said. "Like using selective fishing gear, it is very difficult to control. So this cannot be the only policy to conserve stocks."
Nor does she favour the Irish suggest ion of a review after three years, rather than sticking rigidly to the six year plan. However, she said she was willing to accept this if there can be agreement.
"The fishing industry needs stability, and remember that it was the EU member states themselves who originally wanted a six year plan, because with such a programme running, it would give them a stronger hand in negotiating the new financial package for structural funds after 1999," she said.
However, EU structural funds for fleet modernisation and decommissioning will not be available next year, if there is no agreement on the issue by the end of the Irish presidency's term, she warned. This was not a threat, but a "legal problem".
The Irish industry's call for special treatment - given that Ireland has 16 per cent of EU waters but only 4 per cent of catch and less than 3 per cent of the fleet - has not been ignored, Ms Bonino said. Ireland received special funds for control. Next year's discussion on reform of the Common Fisheries Policy would also consider regional management, a move which could benefit Ireland.
