Waterford TD calls for action to stop family boats from being locked out of fish quotas

Waterford TD and Cathaoirleach of the Dáil Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Conor McGuinness, has said family boats and local fisherman are being denied their fair share of fish.

Speaking after a sitting of the committee this week, Deputy McGuinness said the inshore sector – the largest part of the Irish fleet, “is crying out for proper support.” 

“The inshore fleet makes up 95% of our vessels and employs more people than any other part of the industry. 

"These are family boats, the lifeblood of coastal communities. Yet they are locked out of quota fisheries, left reliant on shellfish, and treated as second-class citizens in their own industry.

“Quota is a public resource. It belongs to the Irish people, but successive governments have treated it as the private preserve of a chosen few. 

"Article 17 of the Common Fisheries Policy is clear – quotas must be allocated in a fair, transparent way that recognises the needs of small-scale, low-impact vessels.

“Ireland has ignored this for decades. Our inshore fleet gets just 400 tonnes of mackerel out of 40,000 tonnes. That is indefensible,” said Deputy McGunniess.

Deputy McGuinness said that larger vessels are exceeding quotas by 200% or 300% with no consequences.

But, he said, inshore fishermen are “shut down the minute they approach their limits.” 

“It is one rule for the big players and another for small boats,” said Deputy McGuiness.

Deputy McGuinness said that unlike farmers, inshore fishermen do not get proper finacial support with the Fish Assist Scheme barely reaching 50 families.

“Government must stop ignoring the inshore sector. 

"That means securing a fairer deal at European level, but also delivering justice at home – fair quota allocation, meaningful financial supports, and an end to the discrimination against inshore fishing operations,” said Deputy McGuinness.