Press Release
December 10th 2010
Irish environmental groups call for transparency in allocation of fish quotas
Fisheries Minister Sean Connick and senior officials from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will be on their way to Brussels this weekend for the annual carve-up of fishing opportunities to take place on December 13/14. Traditionally this involves late-night haggling in a casino-type atmosphere, but for the first time Irish environmental groups, including the Irish Wildlife Trust, Coastwatch and BirdWatch Ireland, will be present at the European Commission buildings to observe these dealings first hand.
Over-fishing is the greatest threat to the health of our oceans and it is well recognised that 70% of Europe's fish stocks are over-fished[1], while 30% are fished beyond 'safe biological limits' – a euphemism for 'threatened with extinction'.
This year the European Commission has proposed quota allocations that are grounded in scientific evidence and would allow fish stocks to recover – thus providing a sustainable future for fishermen, coastal communities and the environment. However, when Irish environmental groups met with Minister Connick on December 1st they were told that these proposals would be ignored – for reasons that are unclear.
Pádraic Fogarty, chairman of the Irish Wildlife Trust says "Its quite simple – if there are no fish, there will be no fishing. Those who represent our country need to start the process of repairing the damage done to our seas if there is to be a viable fish industry for the future. Putting environmental sustainability first is the only way to do this. Our seas are a common resource and not the property of a few."
Irish environmental groups have united within the OCEAN2012[2] Europe-wide coalition to call on the Government to:
- Put the environment first for people's sake
- Openly justify why Ireland is deviating from the EC proposals
- Be transparent in how the Irish quota is allocated and to give preferential access to those fishermen that are taking steps to minimise their environmental impact.
ENDS
For further information contact Pádraic Fogarty, Irish Wildlife Trust Chairman, on 087-2959811 or at irishwildlife@iwt.ie
