Fishermen warn Fahey on inspection measures

Angry Donegal fishing representatives have told the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Fahey, that "draconian" EU inspection measures are driving larger fishing vessels away from Irish ports.

In a meeting with Mr Fahey in Killybegs yesterday the Donegal Fish Merchants' Association warned that some 1,500 people directly employed in processing could be affected by the consequent shortage of fish.

"It is a ridiculous situation, where local boats taking fish off the west coast of Ireland are steaming up to Norway for prices that are little better than here," Mr Tadhg Gallagher, chairman of the association, said.

Bad weather over the past fortnight, which has confined much of the whitefish fleet to port, has compounded the situation for factories dependent on regular landings. "The prices offered for mackerel in Norway, France and Scotland do not justify the long trips to those ports," Mr Gallagher said.

"The reason the larger boats are going is because of draconian inspection measures, which are having a very grave social impact on this coastal region."

The Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation also warned the Minister that it will not tolerate the restrictions. "We have no problem with tight controls, as long as they apply to everybody straight across the European Community," Mr Joey Murrin, chief executive of the KFO, said.

"This is not the case, as boats landing into Killybegs are being discriminated against."

Mr Murrin said Mr Fahey would have to seek a meeting with the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Commissioner, Mr Frans Fischler, "to sort this out".