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Tony Killeen |
THE Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) has demanded immediate Government action to address the crisis caused by crippling fuel costs.
The Federation was speaking following its first meeting with minister Brendan Smith and minister of state Tony Killeen yesterday.
FIF said that "at a long and extremely robust meeting" yesterday with Brendan Smith, minister for agriculture fisheries & food, and Tony Killeen, FIF impressed on the ministers the extreme gravity of the current situation.
"The Ministers acknowledged the seriousness of the threat to the sector and undertook to seek urgent consultations with Joe Borg EU maritime affairs commissioner, in light of the need for concerted EU action.
"FIF outlined in graphic detail all the implications of the fuel crisis for our industry which is literally facing annihilation. The extremely negative compounding effect of cheap fish imports into Europe on Irish producers was highlighted."
Federation chairmen, Michael Walsh said: "Fishermen’s patience at the current situation is stretched to breaking point.
"They are demanding a credible and early response from our Government. Only a demonstration of real commitment to the survival of the sector will suffice at this stage.
"FIF cannot over emphasise the depth of feeling within the industry on this issue."
The Irish fisheries ministry said today that Minister Smith described the meeting as a very useful and constructive exchange of views and said that he looked forward to working with the industry. The Minister said that the FIF had raised a number of concerns of the Irish fisheries sector. Mr Smith said that he noted the statement issued by the EU Fisheries and Maritime Commissioner, Joe Borg, in which he acknowledged the difficulties being experienced by the European fisheries sector.
Meanwhile, Mr Killeen had welcomed the opportunity to meet the industry, which he described as an important one with which he was committed to working closely to ensure its successful future. Minister Killeen said that a key element in securing the industry's future was the implementation of the report of the Seafood Strategy Implementation Group - Steering a New Course - and said that he had earlier met the Chairman of the Implementation Group, Dr Noel Cawley to review progress on the report's implementation.
Ministers Smith and Killeen had also confirmed that they had requested an early meeting with Commissioner Borg to discuss the issues of concern to Irish fisherman and welcomed the Commissioner' s commitment to work with Member States and stakeholders. The Ministers also said that they would have the opportunity to discuss the issues with their EU colleagues at the forthcoming EU Fisheries Council on June 23.
Meanwhile, Jim Portus, chief executive of the South Western Fish Producer Organisation Ltd and Chairman of the UK Association of Fish Producer Organisations is today attending a hastily arranged meeting of the European Fishing Action Group (EFAG) that last met in 2005.
Mr Portus said the Group is assembling to discuss the growing and pan-European crisis in the fishing industry caused by ever-rising fuel oil prices.
He said: "The Group hopes that, through direct action and the application of appropriate pressure on political leaders, they can achieve a fair price for oil for all EU fish producers and a fair price at auction for the fish.
“The industry in the South-west of England, as elsewhere, is at its wits end. The price of fuel has gone up inexorably, rising this year alone from 35p per litre at Christmas 2007 to 58p today. Fuel has never been more expensive, yet the price paid for fish at auction has gone down in the same period.
“We’ve got to get help now; otherwise many businesses will simply tie up until there are better prospects.
"After the last major crisis in 2000, we lost nearly 10% of businesses gone bust. Since then, however, we’ve deliberately restructured the fleet to the minimum acceptable in Brussels in terms of fishing effort and catching capacity.
"There is no surplus and ports can’t afford to lose throughput. This is crunch time and I’m worried no-one is listening.
“If local producers do tie up, then consumers will only have fish of lower quality and lower value on the shelves, from outside of the EU. They should not have to settle for anything less than the best that Westcountry producers could provide.
"The meeting of EFAG will attract delegates from all over the EU. This is a pan-European problem with solutions to be found here, in the centre of EU power."
In earlier campaigns, the EFAG organised successful blockades in Boulogne, Zeebrugge and elsewhere.
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