EU proposals for “mandatory privatisation” of fish quotas have been criticised by Minister for the Marine Simon Coveney, who warned it could allow international companies to take over family-owned fleets.
The proposal is one of a number published today by the European Commission as a blueprint for reform of its controversial Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) from 2013.
Mr Coveney said he welcomes the opportunity to revise the CFP, and favours many of the proposals outlined by EU maritime and fisheries commissioner Maria Damanaki.
However, Mr Coveney said he was “very disappointed” that Ms Damanaki had decided to “impose this scheme of mandatory privatisation of quotas on member states”.
The measure, which would provide for transferable quotas from no later than December 31st, 2013, stipulates that a member state must give a minimum of 15 years’ advance notice if it wished to recall quotas for re-allocation.
“I have expressed my grave concerns that this policy, if adopted, will lead to the family owned fishing fleet here in Ireland being bought up by European international companies who have the capital to buy out our quotas,” Mr Coveney said.
“I have no doubt that this would lead to concentration of fishing into the hands of large fishing international companies without links to the coastal communities and these very large fishing vessels, in some cases factory ships, would no longer land into Ireland resulting in loss of jobs, closure of fish processing factories and economic activity in our coastal communities,” he said.
He said he intended to work “vigorously” with the Irish industry over the coming months, and would highlight the “real and substantial damage this policy would have on jobs and economic activity in our coastal communities”.
Mr Coveney supports the concept of addressing fish discards, but says he differs on the “approach that needs to be taken” to do this. A ban on discarding of fish, which would be applied incrementally over the period 2014 to 2016, is among the recommendations.
A recent media campaign by British celebrity chefs such as Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has resulted in extensive public opposition to discards – which Ms Damanaki has responded to.
Her reaction has been described as “knee jerk” by industry experts here, who point out that Ireland has spent a number of years lobbying at EU for technical measures to reduce the chances of catching undersized fish.
“While I fully share her concern, I consider that the introduction of a simple ban may be counter productive and may not change behaviour, but instead drive the practice underground,” Mr Coveney warned.
Ms Damanaki’s plan aims to hand back more decision-making powers to member states.
"Today, by virtue of the co-decision procedure, even the most detailed technical decisions... have to be taken at the highest political level in the European machinery," Ms Damanaki noted today, stating that she wanted to “decentralise” and see member states co-operating at regional level.
Mr Coveney said he would set out Ireland’s position on the CFP proposals at next week’s EU Fisheries Council.
