Members of Ireland’s seafood industry are warning of potential major EU funding cuts that could cripple fisheries in Donegal and nationwide.
The proposed changes would see the dedicated EU seafood fund, the EMFAF, removed.
It would be replaced by a broader funding pool shared with other areas of the economy including agriculture and regional development – with only one percent of the proposed €865 million fund being dedicated to fishing.
Ireland’s Seafood Industry Alliance (SIA) has warned that up to two-thirds of all fisheries jobs in Ireland could be at risk as a result, claiming that 16,000 jobs could be lost.
CEO of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation Dominic Rihan says that this could put the Irish fishing industry on the brink of collapse.
“Without a dedicated funding stream for seafood, we risk losing essential investment. This could push us to the margins when we should be front and centre in providing food security and maintaining coastal communities,” he said in a statement.
“We welcome the leadership of Minister Timmy Dooley and call on all Irish MEPs to back a fair deal,” said Rihan. “This is a moment for strong action. Our seafood sector depends on it.”
