GOVERNMENT SUPPORT for its €600 million seafood strategy is "critical" to ensuring the Irish fishing fleet weathers the current serious difficulties, Bord Iascaigh Mhara's chief executive, Jason Whooley, has said.
The Cawley strategy published 18 months ago will address underlying structural problems, and there is "no point in overcoming one crisis if fundamental weaknesses remain", Mr Whooley said.
With world demand for seafood increasing, there is still a "silver lining" for a restructured sector, Mr Whooley stressed - but temporary tie-up aid during the current fuel price hike was "vital". He was speaking before the opening of a BIM conference on the industry's future at the Fish Ireland exhibition in Donegal yesterday.
Mr Whooley said BIM'S recent roll-out of the Government's €42 million decommissioning programme to remove up to a third of the whitefish fleet is "one of the major pillars" of the Cawley strategy - so named after its architect, former Bord Bia chief executive Dr Noel Cawley.
Some 46 vessel owners have until July 18th to decide whether to accept an offer of compensation or not, and all €42 million allocated "will be spent", due to a reserve list, Mr Whooley said.
He was well aware of concerns about compensating crew and this was an issue that was being considered by the strategy implementation group.
"It is something that the Minister is also aware of, and is still under consideration," he said.
Former industry leader Joey Murrin, who was an author of the strategy, has made several calls for a financial package for crew. The Cawley report had recommended €66 million for the decommissioning scheme, including a percentage to compensate communities affected by the cuts.
Mr Whooley said his previous 11 years' experience with the Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation taught him the industry was "not without constant challenges".
However, the fuel price crisis was particularly harsh on a sector that could not pass on any increased costs.
EU fisheries ministers may make progress on this at their next council next month, he said.
A new seafood marketing initiative established by Minister of State for Fisheries Tony Killeen, and chaired by Mr Whooley, would try to encourage consumers to make "informed decisions" about their seafood purchases, given the negative impact on the sector of illegal and unregulated fish imports, he said.
Current labelling does not permit regional identification - Irish-caught fish comes under the generic "north Atlantic" label. BIM is also not permitted to promote Irish seafood over that of other suppliers under State-aid guidelines, he said. There were "possibilities" in relation to clearer labelling, and the most important fact was that seafood was a "marketing dream", given sustained increased demand.
A recent TNS survey showed that retail sale demand grew in Ireland by 17 per cent last year, and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) forecast that an extra 37 million tonnes would be required to satisfy global demand by 2030.
Provisions for aquaculture in the Cawley strategy would also ensure that this sector met its potential, he said.
Also in Donegal, Dr Cawley said a decommissioning scheme for vessels less than 18 metres in length was being investigated.