Sinn Féin spokesperson on Fisheries and the Marine, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD, has called on the Minister for the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, to act urgently on an unprecedented SOS call from the entire Irish seafood sector.
Ireland’s fishing and fish producer organisations say they are under threat of being wiped out by high energy prices. In turn, jobs and food security is at risk.
A joint statement from eight groups is calling on Government to act now to claim available EU funds to compensate the seafood sector and get the situation under control.
Speaking ahead of a meeting between the Minister and those organisations today, Teachta Mac Lochlainn said: “I am again appealing to Minister McConalogue to urgently take action on this crisis that is about to close down our fishing industry. The fishing industry in Ireland estimates that fuel needs to be cheaper than 60 cent a litre for Irish trawlers to run profitably. Fuel is now costing €1.30 or more. That is the scale of the crisis.
“All around the coast, fishermen and fish producers are reporting that boats will not be able to go out to sea and that we will soon have a food supply crisis. But again and again, our government have refused to act.
“The European Commission adopted a ‘Temporary Crisis Framework’ for the seafood sector on 23rd March last. This was to enable Member States to use the flexibility of State aid rules to compensate for high energy prices.
“In addition to this, just two days later, the Commission activated a crisis mechanism to grant financial compensation for lost income and additional costs, because of seafood market disruption. It was activated under the umbrella of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund.
Deputy Mac Lochlainn said: “Despite these European wide supports that other EU Member States such as France and Spain have deployed to help their fishing industry, our Minister and government have sat on their hands.”
Teresa Morrissey, IFA Aquaculture Executive says the seafood sector has a crucial role in the Irish economy: “Irish seafood is worth €1.25 Billion to the Irish economy. It provides over 16,000 direct jobs across all seafood sectors. These jobs are mainly located in coastal and peripheral areas. So, any job losses will hit hardest at our coastal and maritime communities.”
John Lynch of the Irish South and East Fish Producers Organisation (IS&EFPO) points out that “The Irish Government has failed to activate the funding made available by the EU for the seafood industry. “Meanwhile French, Spanish and many of our fellow EU compatriots who fish our seas are receiving targeted benefits to aid their seafood sectors to help them to continue to operate.”
“We need to prevent a wipe out of the seafood industry which threatens our ability to make a significant contribution to EU food security. In order to do this, we must be on a level playing field with our EU counterparts.”
