Killeen says €1.1bn of illegal fisheries products imported annually into EU

AN ESTIMATED 500,000 tonnes of illegal fisheries products, valued at €1.1 billion or more, were imported into the EU annually, Minister of State for Fisheries Tony Killeen told the Dáil.

“I believe that we must take strong action to address this menace which is both destroying fish stocks and undermining the markets for our own fishermen,” he added.

Mr Killeen said he would push new proposals at next week’s EU fisheries meeting, putting the onus on member states, where fish was landed or imported, to verify they were caught using legal means.

“There are also provisions setting down sanctions against countries which continue to facilitate IUU (illegal) fishing by providing flags of convenience for illegal vessels,” Mr Killeen added.

“This is a very important new policy, which is timely and urgent, and which I believe will support the EU market for Irish fishermen and contribute to improving fish prices.” Speaking during a debate on the fishing industry, Mr Killeen said rising fuel costs, as a result of global economic and political conditions, was a matter of very serious concern for all sectors.

However, it was acknowledged that the fishing industry’s reliance on fuel was such that rising costs had impacted on it far more than other sectors. He said it would be simplistic and irresponsible to suggest that there were any quick fixes to the current hiatus.

Fine Gael spokesman Michael Creed warned the industry would collapse without a financial package.

“There is provision at an EU level for this and you, Minister, will have to deliver on this in a very tight timeframe,” he added.

“I do not want to hear again talk of learning curves for Ministers just arrived in their departments. If you are in the job, you must be on the job.”

Labour spokesman Seán Sherlock said when fishermen were not bringing in catches and their incomes depleted, they were deemed to be self-employed. They should not have to go to the welfare officer to beg for supplementary income, he said. He called for the introduction of a tax break on the basis that they were sustaining communities in coastal regions.

Sinn Féin spokesman Martin Ferris said the sector had been betrayed as far back as the early 1970s, during negotiations for EU entry.

“The crisis has been brought to a head by fuel costs, but it is only one of a long series of successive blows to the sector,” he added.

“The quota has been cut, the numbers of fishing days reduced, and legislation introduced to criminalise fishermen despite the overwhelming opposition of the agriculture and fisheries committee.”