More fishermen will lose their lives this winter unless more realistic regulations are accepted by the Department of the Marine, a national safety conference heard yesterday.
Already this year the sea fishing industry has experienced nine deaths at sea, the same number as the much larger farming sector, according to statistics presented at the National Irish Safety Organisation conference in Killarney.
Fisherman John O'Mahony, who skippers the 24-metre Seán Mair II out of Kinsale, fishing for prawns, cod and monkfish, addressed the conference on safety concerns in the fisheries sector. He said EU-led designated ports and quota regulations introduced by the Department of the Marine were putting lives at risk.
"Quota is being put before fishermen's lives, they are bringing in regulation without talking to people in the industry," he said.
When Mr O'Mahony had a catch of monkfish, he had to steam to Union Hall 4½ hours away. He would be "arrested on spot" were he to land the catch in his home port of Kinsale, which is not designated for monkfish.
It was one thing in the summer to travel to Union Hall, but in winter storms there was a major safety risk. Herring fishermen were being forced to travel to Dingle or Dunmore East - herring designated ports.
"There is a safety issue, not to mention the deterioration of the quality of the fish and the heavier carbon footprint in the extra diesel being used up," Mr O'Mahony said.
He called for a "more realistic approach", including scrapping the designated ports and allowing vessels to land their catches at whatever port suited.
The current regulations were designed around "making life easier for fishery officers", rather than fishermen, he said.
Mr O'Mahony called for changes to be introduced immediately, "now we are heading into the winter", the most dangerous months for Irish fishermen. "If the department don't come up with more realistic regulations, we will have more deaths."
Next week he will meet with Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Mary Coughlan, whose department is in the process of taking over responsibilities for the marine, to raise fishermen's concerns.
President of the National Irish Safety Organisation George Brett said putting lives at risk was not acceptable.
A total of 53 people have lost their lives in workplace accidents so far this year, compared with 52 deaths for the whole of last year, the conference was told. New regulations by the Health and Safety Authority will move towards a more preventive response to danger in the workplace.