The Minister for the Marine, Dr Woods, yesterday expressed satisfaction after it was agreed that the European Commission should reconsider its proposals on fishing-fleet reduction, particularly as they would apply to Ireland.
On arrival in Brussels yesterday he opened negotiations at a Council of Fisheries Ministers with a strong attack on the proposals, saying: "Ireland will not accept the Commission's proposals for the 130 per cent tonnage replacement requirement."
Dr Woods told the Council of Ministers that if the plans were allowed to proceed, it would be a devastating blow to opportunities for Irish fishermen to further develop and renew their fleet in the future, just at the point when skippers had signed contracts for at least a further 17 new vessels.
"I owe it to our fishermen," he said, "given their commitment to the Government's scheme, which will add over 70 new, modern second-hand and modernised vessels to our fleet, to reject attempts to prevent future fleet development." Dr Woods also refused to accept the second part of the proposals that would ban trade in second-hand vessels.
The Irish delegations noted some sympathy for the Minister's arguments from Germany where, like Ireland, many fishing vessels are old and need modernising, especially in eastern Germany. Irish officials noted support for Dr Woods's arguments from other delegations, and eventually the German Presidency of the Council formally asked the Commission to reconsider the fleet reduction proposals.
The proposals required that if a vessel registered at 100 tonnes was replaced, it would have to be rep laced by 130 tonnes. This would effectively reduce, over time, the overall tonnage of the fleet.
It would be an effective means of reducing the large fishing fleets of countries such as Spain and Denmark and was supported by countries such as Austria and the UK. However, for smaller fleets in poor condition, it would be a devastating measure.