Irish fishermen are the most penalised in Europe under this State's management system and will be forced out of business if there is no change, an industry organisation has said.
The Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation (IS&WFO) says that it is seeking national industry support for a move away from the traditional fish quota management regime. It cites an EU report published last year, which showed that Ireland treated its fishermen more harshly than any other European state.
The Irish system of management is now "unique" in Europe, according to the IS&WFO, as vessels here are allocated a monthly quota for each species. States like Spain and France operate a quota system run by fishing co-operatives. The Naval Service admitted last week it has more information on Irish fishing vessels than on any other EU member state in Irish waters, this accounts for the fact that over 75 per cent of fishery-related detentions by its patrol ships last year were of Irish-registered boats.
"If an Irish skipper is arrested and taken to the Circuit Court, the maximum fine is €120,000 per offence, even though he may only have marginally exceeded his quota," Mr Jason Whooley of the IS&WFO said last Wednesday. "In addition, his catch and fishing gear will be confiscated. A similar offence in Finland will cost fishermen just €137." Last year's EU report on monitoring showed that all 42 breaches of fisheries legislation in Ireland went to court, while only four of some 3,595 offences in Spain resulted in criminal prosecution, Mr Whooley pointed out. "We are not in any way advocating over-fishing, but surely the penalty should fit the offence," he said.