Donegal fishermen fear jobs losses from EU mackerel law

Donegal faces the threat of further job losses in the fishing industry if new EU regulations limiting the movements of the mackerel fleet are implemented, according to a new survey.

Almost 5 per cent of the total Donegal workforce could be affected by EU "days at sea" measures, the survey by the Donegal Fish Merchants' Association, warns.

The net effect of the measure, aimed at conserving certain stocks, will be to force the mackerel fleet to land all its catches in Norwegian and Scottish ports - being closer to the fishing grounds - to make the most of restricted time at sea. This could threaten up to 1,500 jobs in shore processing in the south Donegal area, some 660 of which are full-time, the survey says.

Already, IBEC's marine council has expressed serious concern at the proposal, which applies only to the mackerel/herring fleet - a fleet on which south Donegal is dependent.

Mr Tadhg Gallagher, chairman of the Donegal Fish Merchants' Association, said that already some 50 per cent of mackerel and horse mackerel caught by Irish vessels was being landed in other ports. The Government had not taken the issue seriously enough, and was trying to play down the significance of the new EU measure, he said.

The new EU proposal would further exacerbate an acute lack of continuity in relation to the supply of raw material, he said.

The survey commissioned by his association shows that the fish processing sector is a major player in the local economy of the peripheral north-west area, with an annual turnover of more than £112 million.

While Killybegs is the hub, fish processing is also a significant generator of income throughout the region from Kincasslagh to Donegal town to Glencolmcille.

The survey - based on questionnaires sent to 19 fish processors - estimates that more than 70 per cent of employees in the processing plants are "main earners" in their households.

The sector also makes a substantial contribution to local government finances through property rates, at £245,869, and water charges, at £292,304 annually.

Energy costs run at £2.5 million and some £4.9 million in PAYE and PRSI is returned to the Exchequer, the survey says.