Irish South and West Fishermen’s Organisation

Presentation to MEPsEuropean Parliament Committee on

FisheriesCASTLETOWNBERE

20th March 2008

IntroductionWho do we represent?

• 90 + vessels between Galway and Dunmore East•Sizes ranging from 10m to 37m

• Board of 12 directors - all fishermen

• All year round fishing•Pelagic & White Fish

Local Industry Sales & Processing

• CTB Fishermen’s Co Op

• Union Hall Fishermen’s Co Op

• Shell Fish De La Mer

• Fast Fish Ltd

• Ilen Seafoods– Iasc Mara – Rosa Mhil– O Cathain Teo – An Daingean

External Participation of Organisation

• Ireland– Federation of Irish Fishermen– National Quota Management & other Govt

Committees.

• EUROPE– NWWRAC– EAPO

Importance of the Irish Fishing Industry

• Indigenous industry• Regional demographic and socio-economic importance

– rural coastal communities (Disadvantaged areas)• Employment

– C5000/(11000) directly plus indirect and ancillary employment

• Economic importance– Seafood sales in 2007 of €803m– Annual sector growth of 8%– Export trade of €360m

Source (Report of the Seafood Strategy Review Group 2006)

Economic Overview

• Decreasing numbers of;– Fishing Vessels– Processors

• Decreasing volume and value of landings

• Increased fuel costs and overheads

Economic Overview

• Dynamic shifts in fleet size and structure– Decommissioning– Quota management– Inshore fleet investment

Current National Issues

• Implementation of Seafood Strategy Report •Fishing Fleet - De Commissioning•Quota Management Reform

•Legislation & Dependence on Criminal law

VISION

PROFITABLESUSTAINABLE

LEGAL INDUSTRY

Key Points

• Economy

• Economic Viability of Industry• Socio Economic Factors

• Oil Prices

• Quota Management System• Discards

Key Points

• Level Playing Field for Enforcement

• Environmental & Sustainability

• EU Fish Imports

Socio Economic

• Changing Economic Outlook– Potential Opportunities for Fishing Industry

• Fishing Industry Decline– Local Factory Closures– Reduction in Local Fleet

• 100% over 10 years.

• Employment– Lack of New Entrants ??

Economic Viability

• Financial Pressure on Fishers– Pre Current Fuel Crisis– Inadequate Quota– No Control over key Costs or Sales!

• Declining Fish Prices

• National Response– Seafood Strategy Report– De Commissioning

OIL PRICE

• Fishing potentially Unsustainable at Current Prices– Immediate impact on Vessel costs

• EU & State Interventions– Level Playing Field Essential– Transparent Information

• Impact on Fishing Practise?

OIL PRICE

• Way Forward– Research Longer term Solutions– Finance for Changeover to more Fuel Efficient

methods.– Reduce European Imports (increase Demand)

• Consumer Information

– Subsidy for Temporary Tie Up.

• Short Term Hardship – must be addressed

Quota Issues

• Historical Imbalance– Ireland at disadvantage– ‘Relative Stability Formula’– ‘Hague Preferences’ must be protected.

• Decision Making Process– Policy where Insufficient Data Exists– Under Utilised Stocks

• Require Stability post Fleet Reduction

Quota Issues

• Discards Issue

• Cod Stocks in Celtic Sea

• Data Collection & Provision– Industry Science Partnerships.

ENFORCEMENT

• Level Playing Field– Ir Quota System

• Administrative Sanctions

• High Levels of Compliance within Ireland– SFPA – newly established enforcement

authority

Sustainability

• Members Committed to Conservation– Gill Net Sizes– Other Net Sizes– Cod Area Closures

• Real Time Closures Scotland

European Fish Imports

• LacK of Consumer Awareness – Traceability of Fish.

• Best Quality FRESH Organic Fish – undermined by lack of information

Conclusion

• Opportunity in Changing Economic Outlook

• Socio Economic Importance of Industry

• Level European playing field.– Enforcement

• Europe’s Only Island– Transport costs

Conclusion

• Quota Issues

• Immediate Review of 2008 COD Quota – Celtic Sea

• Fuel Costs & Current Financial Viability

•?