Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy has said that the future of the fishing industry depends on having strong representatives in Europe and there needs to be a review of how Irish boats get just 7 per cent of fish in Irish waters.
The Midlands Northwest candidate said tonight: “The fishing industry has been decimated by decades of underinvestment and European bureaucracy.
“EU regulations governing Irish fishing have brought the industry to its knees. It has been estimated that the commercial value of Ireland’s fisheries between 1975 and 2010 was €210 billion. Over this period Ireland’s share of this was €17 billion while our net loss was €184 billion.
“Ireland has roughly 20% of the EU’s waters but one of the smallest fishing quotas. Even in our own waters Irish fishermen have only a 7% quota. Spain has a 34% quota and can regularly land abundant catches of monkfish and other varieties long after the quota has been reached for Irish fishing vessels.
“Ireland’s fishing industry and ports like Killybegs and Ros a Mhíl need a strong voice in Europe arguing for their rights. In 2013 Sinn Féin’s sitting MEP Martina Anderson successfully amended the CFP report to include the 1976 Hague Preferences which will now seek to ensure special recognition for Irish fishing communities and their quotas.
“Sinn Féin has shown what we can do. By voting for Sinn Féin MEP candidates, people would be electing a strong team who have and will continue to stand up for Ireland’s fishing communities.”
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