After a week of intensive protests and blockades around the coastline by Irish fishermen and their families, who are angry about the decline of their industry and the imminent threat to their livelihoods, fishermen across the board demanded respect from the SFPA in their face-to-face meeting with Andrew Kinneen, SFPA board member and his colleagues.
Meanwhile, with their blockade temporarily lifted, pending Friday’s promised meeting with Minister Brendan Smith and Minister of State Tony Killeen, Union Hall fisherman Martin Deasy, speaking on behalf of his fellow fishermen, said: “No one else but the Minister can sort this out.
“We have nowhere else to go. Our backs are to the wall, as the banks are going to re-possess our boats and our homes.
“All we want is a fair deal,†explained Martin Deasy, on board one of the 60-plus trawlers blocking Cork harbour on Tuesday.
Their issues include the import of cod, from outside the EU – with 5,000 tonnes of cod being flown from Iceland into Cork Airport between three and five times a week for processing here.
Meanwhile, Irish fishermen are being forced to dump perfectly good cod at sea because of the small quota allocated to Ireland and the manner in which the Irish quota is distributed.
Fishermen pointed out that Irish fishermen are forced to dump cod and monkfish, whilst Spanish boats, who have four times the number of trawlers, can continue to fish legally and catch the same species in the same waters.
With the rising cost of fuel, low prices for their catch and low quotas, fishermen say their industry is not sustainable. They have no wish to become militant or aggressive, but have been pushed to take desperate measures, as they believe their industry is on the brink of collapse.
They promised that their blockade of Cork harbour will continue should Friday’s meeting not bring immediate emergency aid. Two ships were unable to exit the harbour and another stood at anchor waiting to enter on Tuesday night. Blockades will continue at Waterford and at Dingle, where Spanish trawlers were unable to land their catch earlier in the week, and fishermen propose to block the River Shannon as their protest escalates.
It is estimated that upwards of 60,000 people in coastal communities would be affected by the demise of the Irish fishing industry. Fishermen say they believe this government is intent on eliminating their industry, which seems unthinkable in an island nation, where marine should be its greatest asset.
Peaceful demonstrations outside the Dáil and at Cork Airport last week achieved nothing, so their action stepped up over last weekend. The Union Hall fleet and vessels from around the coast headed to Cobh at midnight last Sunday. On Monday they proceeded to circle Cork harbour and on Monday afternoon held a meeting in the Metropole Hotel, which was attended by around 300 fishermen.
On Monday night, around 100 fishermen went to Cork Airport where they stopped two trucks going in to collect fish, although two trucks had gone into the airport earlier to meet the planes delivering cod from Iceland.
Fishermen explained to the authorities that the trucks could come out, as long as they had no fish. When the trucks did exit they were inspected by the fishermen and they had no fish on board.
On Tuesday morning, fishermen issued a security notice at 10.30am, saying they were blockading Cork Harbour and the blockade remained in place until Wednesday. Fishermen say they have got tremendous support from the public, as soon as people understand why they have been forced to take these actions.
Ten taxis were put at their disposal at Cork Airport on Monday night and taxi drivers offered to block the roundabout at the airport in support. The bus drivers’ union is also supporting fishermen and have offered to hand out leaflets explaining the situation to their passengers and have said they will not cross a picket line.
Meanwhile, all Irish boats at sea are returning home to join in support of what fishermen see as an eleventh hour attempt to salvage what is left of their industry.
They point out that, even when they are allowed to catch fish, they receive §3 per kilo for a whole fish, which – when filleted – a supermarket sells for §17 per kilo. Fishermen are paid §3.50 per kilo for prawns, which sell in the supermarket for §13.50 per kilo.
Martin Deasy stated: “We are not being fobbed off. We are here for the long haul. We need our quota restructured, cheap foreign imports from outside the EU banned and a tie-up period whilst the cost of fuel is so high.
“We want people from this delegation to meet with Brendan Smith because we are losing faith in the Federation of Irish Fishermen. Our people are going bankrupt and losing their boats and their homes, whilst paid representatives are talking about meetings in two weeks’ time. Somebody has got to listen to us now!
“If they talk about a carbon footprint, what is the carbon footprint of three Mondeo cars, each with one man inside from the SFPA, driving to the pier to check what we are landing. At the moment, there is a budget for §17 million for the SFPA and the budget for the Drugs Unit is §12 million,†they claimed.
Commenting on the situation on Tuesday, Fine Gael Agriculture, Fisheries and Food spokesman, Michael Creed TD, condemned the silence of the responsible Minister, Brendan Smith, over the growing crisis facing the fishing industry. “European Council regulations, (1260 and 1263/1999) allow for direct financial assistance to fishermen in the area of ‘temporary cessation of activities and other financial compensation’. This kind of provision is urgently needed if the industry is to survive and it is vital that the Minister is in contact with Commissioner Borg, who has made comments which appeared to be along these lines.â€
Labour Party spokesperson on the Marine, Senator Michael McCarthy, concurred, saying: “It is time that Ministers Smith and Killeen showed some common sense in this matter. How much further does the campaign of fishermen have to escalate before the Ministers sit up and take notice?
“The Ministers need to demonstrate political commitment to the industry. Lip service will not suffice. They must intervene to bring this crisis to an end. We shouldn’t have to see our ports blockaded. What is needed is a reasonable political response to the genuine plight of the fishing community around our coast.
“It is no exaggeration to say that this industry is on the brink of collapse. It is time for the Government to take charge of the issue.â€
