MINISTER OF State for Fisheries Tony Killeen has defended his share-out of this year’s increased mackerel quota amid criticisms that most of it has been given to the Donegal supertrawler fleet.
West and south coast fishing representatives say they are “very angry”, while the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation is equally upset.
The 33 per cent increase in this year’s quota should be shared out equitably around the coastline, the Irish South and West Fish Producers’ Organisation (ISWFPO) has said.
Fishermen and fish processors in Baltimore and Castletownbere, Co Cork, Dingle, Co Kerry, and Rossaveal, Co Galway, have been allocated 13 per cent of the total, an increase of 3 per cent on previous share-outs.
“There was a strong expectation that Minister of State for Fisheries Tony Killeen would recognise the economic value of providing broader access to the increased mackerel quota,” ISWFPO chief executive Gerard O’Flynn said yesterday.
“This was a very real opportunity to both protect and generate employment in isolated coastal communities.
“The degree of anger and disappointment should not be underestimated,” he said.
Mr O’Flynn pointed out that the 23 Killybegs-based boats were of such capacity and range that they may land much of their mackerel quota abroad, whereas factories in Donegal, Cork, Kerry and Galway depended on regular supplies.
Mr Killeen said it was “an extraordinary achievement” for ISWFPO to turn a “good news story into a bad one”.
He had examined the case made by all parties, and had made his decision on this basis.
Mr O’Flynn said that there was a “compelling argument” to review the allocation given the increase in the number of boats able to fish for mackerel around the coast.