PRESS RELEASE
March 2nd, 2011.
The Irish Wildlife Trust strongly welcomes proposed ban on fish 'discarding'
Yesterday (March 1st) EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki proposed a phased ban of the discarding of fish as part of a reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Discarding is the term used to describe how massive quantities of dead fish and other marine life are thrown overboard when targeting one specific species. In Irish waters the Marine Institute estimates that discarding rates are as high as 80% for some fisheries (e.g. plaice in the Irish sea)[1]. This means that for every tonne of fish caught 4 tonnes of other fish are thrown overboard. This includes juvenile specimens of perfectly marketable fish such as cod, as well as the numerous other species that make up the marine ecosystem. Mrs Damanki described this practice yesterday as "unethical, a waste of natural resources and a waste of fishermen's effort"[2].
The IWT strongly welcomes this proposal as a vital step to restoring the ecological balance in Irish seas that has been so degraded through the CFP to-date.
IWT chairman Pádraic Fogarty says "discarding is tremendously wasteful and is causing untold damage to our marine ecosystems. We are delighted that Commissioner Damanaki is taking the bold approach to ban it and we hope that the new Irish government and fishing communities will support it".
The IWT has been campaigning since 2009 for a reformed CFP that puts the environment first for the simple reason that if there are no fish then there will be no fishing. The photo below shows the contents of a net from the Irish sea during a trawl for Nephrops prawns (Scampi) – now the second most valuable fishery in Ireland. As can be seen the prawns are few and far between. Anything that was not prawn was thrown overboard (c. Johnny Woodlock).
ENDS
For an original copy of this photo please contact Padraic Fogarty at irishwildlife@iwt.ie or call 01 8602839
Editors Notes:The Irish Wildlife Trust was founded in 1979 as a charitable conservation body. We provide the public with information about wildlife, run education and training programs like SAC Watch and the Outdoor Classroom Programme, carry out habitat and species surveys like the IWT National Lizard Survey and Newt Survey, campaign and lobby around biodiversity issues, restore natural habitats, consult with industry, agriculture and Local Authorities to maintain our natural heritage and contribute to national and international forums for the protection of biodiversity. The IWT is a nationwide organisation with a strong membership base, staff and Board of Directors, with branches in Dublin, Limerick, Waterford, Clare, Cork, Louth, Monaghan, Cavan and Tipperary.
