Harbour charges increase criticised

Representatives from the west Cork port of Castletownbere have added their voice to criticism of new fishery harbour charges proposed by the Minister for the Marine, Mr Ahern.

The Minister said last week he was "undecided" on the date for introducing the new charges, which are due to come into effect tomorrow.

The charges apply only to the State's five fishery harbour centres and represent an increase of up to 600 per cent on existing fees.

Fishing industry organisations and island ferry operators using the harbours have protested over the scale of the increases.

The Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation has said the increase will force fishing vessels to land elsewhere. It has also questioned the timing of the increase when the fishing industry is already under siege over the Irish Box, days at sea restrictions and a proposed EU cap on tonnage.

"There has been a total lack of consultation on these proposed charges, all of which have already been rejected outright by representatives of the five harbours involved and the fishing organizations," Mr Michael Orpen, chairman of the Castletownbere Harbour Users Committee, said yesterday. "Things are so bad at the present time we have to wonder whether they are trying to sink our industry."

Mr Orpen said fishermen using Castletownbere could now find themselves able to land fish at the port of Cork in Cobh at a charge of €2.40 per tonne, while in Castletownbere the rate would be €12.40 per tonne.