Call for radical reform of EU fisheries policy

IRISH and British fishing industry representatives have made a united call for "radical" reform of Europe's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) to ensure that marine resources can be sustained and coastal communities can have a future.

In the first joint meeting of the two national representative bodies in Dublin this week, the Irish Fishermen's Federation, (IFF) welcomed Britain's effort to tackle CFP loopholes during the forthcoming EU Inter Governmental Conference.

The IFF and the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations also agreed that the European Commission's recent proposals on technical conservation measures were deeply flawed" and would not help conservation. In fact, the measures would serve only to "bankrupt fishermen", they said.

The national bodies pointed out that sensible, practical alternative recommendations on technical conservation had already been made in consultation with them and submitted to Brussels. These recommendations, which had been ignored, should be adopted, they said.

The Anglo Irish meeting is the first in a series of joint initiatives to lobby for change in what is regarded as an outdated model of fisheries management. The CFP is not due for reform until 2002.

Ireland's failure to host an "informal" fisheries conference on the issue during the EU presidency has already been criticised by the industry here, given that Ireland - with 16 per cent of EU waters - is at a disadvantage. It was Britain which took the initiative on the issue of "flagships" or "quota hoppers" vessels which register with another member state to avail of its quota.

The Minister for the Marine, Mr Barrett, is holding a series of bilateral meetings with his European counterparts. This week, the Minister outlined his priorities in relation to conservation, control and enforcement to the Scottish minister with responsibility for fisheries, Mr Raymond Robert.