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A sledgehammer to crack a nut

ifsacormac

The Irish fishing industry - - top heavy governance?


Editorial comment - Cormac Burke, IFSA


It’s sadly ironic to say that for an industry that has been undeniably mis-managed for decades, the Irish fishing sector is currently being micro managed, given that the levels of administrative and bureaucratic staffing numbers continue to increase in relation to the ever-shrinking size of the available quotas, the size of the catching sector, the numbers of vessels and, naturally, the numbers of actual fishermen.


For those already in despair at the current state of an industry that appears to be in free fall and without any genuine political support, a quick glance at some of these civil service and industry ‘authority’ websites (see below) serves only to heighten the anger of the industry when we see phrases such as how “Ireland’s fisheries are an economically vital part of our nation” (DAFM); “A shared objective of a sustainable future” (Charlie McConalogue); “We are a trusted regulator working in a fair, proportionate and transparent way” (SFPA).


These statements, along with sound bytes such as calling the people in this industry ‘fishers’ instead of fishermen and fisherwomen, and casting aside all mention of the ‘fishing’ (catching) industry and replacing it with the ‘seafood sector’ is nothing more than an attempt at diluting the identity and voices of the industry - - -  if there’s a problem in the catching industry then you’ll have to have that raised under a much wider brief of the ‘seafood sector’; if there’s a problem regarding offshore wind farms impacting on fishing grounds then you’ll have to take that up with the Department of Housing; and meanwhile if you see any of the SFPA’s self-declared “fair and transparent way of working”, then please let the rest of us know because no one else has ever experienced it thus far!


BS

While the term ‘fishing industry’ is absent in all of these bodies’ websites, the one word that all of these ‘administrators’ seem to use with great ease is ‘transparency’ . . . While at the same time it is the very lack of transparency that is the root cause of much of the industry’s problems at this time.


Where is the transparency in the DAFM with replacement of the senior anti industry figures with someone who seems to have chosen to remain hidden and avoid all contact with the fishing industry?


Where is Charlie McConalogue’s transparency in regard to the talks over the EU ‘deals’ for Norway and Iceland to catch fish in Irish waters with little or no return for Irish fishermen? And where is his transparency in regularly telling the media and TDs in the Dáil that he is in “regular consultation” with stakeholders when the fact is that he is barely on speaking terms with many of the industry representative groups, and when he does speak to them its to complain if someone has dared to even whisper public dissatisfaction with his management of the industry.


Also, where is the transparency with the Minister and BIM regarding the many schemes he introduced and that were poorly subscribed to - - the recent inshore ‘schemes’ being one example - when there’s no mention of the actual numbers of people who found such schemes even worth applying for?


And of course, where is a single grain of transparency when it comes to the Sea Fisheries Protection ‘Authority’ who, to put it mildly, are the exact opposite to any meaning of the word …. and indeed, who even have the audacity to use the word “fair” when talking about their handling of the fishing industry


There are two clear and distinct versions of the Irish fishing industry - - one version is this industry being presented to the public of a “sustainable sector that is contributing to the economies of the coastal communities” and selling the media a vision of an industry that’s surviving, despite ‘tough times’ due to EU governance (as everything that is wrong with our industry is heaped on the EU by our Government who consistently deflect their own irresponsible mismanagement on EU rule when it suits them) ….


…. the other version, the truth, is that this industry is in its final stages and it possibly only has a few short years left unless some drastic changes are made, at both political and administrative levels but mostly in standing up and challenging the EU Commission on the inequality of the quotas in Irish waters between Irish and non Irish vessels.


Yes, there are abusive and unbalanced quota systems imposed by EU powers but such systems have been aided and abetted by successive Irish governments.


There is no doubt that we, the people of this industry and of the Irish coastal communities nationwide, have been dealt a raw deal, sold down the river, shafted by our own elected representatives as well as the EU …. But despite being the innocent and injured party, we are all guilty of allowing these atrocities to happen…. And will the next generation remember that it was wicked administration that finally closed the Irish fishing industry or will they question the people who stood by and watched it all taken away from them?




Some statements & facts


  • DAFM - Seafood & Marine

Ireland's fisheries are an economically vital part of our nation. If you work in this sector, you are contributing to the economic and environmental well-being of Ireland's coastline communities.”


(As of April 2024 the DAFM employ some 4,017 staff - not known what percentage of this number works directly in the Department’s marine sector)


                                                        ************************

Minister Charlie McConalogue

I continue to work closely with the sector to secure our shared objective of a sustainable future for our seafood sector and the coastal communities that dependent on it.” (July 2023)


My Department constantly monitors the needs of the fisheries sector.  Along with regularly meeting representatives of the sector, holding formal consultations and attending public forums, we monitor developments in key economic indicators.” (April 2024)


                                                         *************************


  • SFPA’s ‘vision’

To be a trusted regulator that promotes and verifies compliance supporting sustainability in Ireland’s sea fisheries and seafood sector in a fair, proportionate and transparent way and where necessary enforcing sea-fisheries and seafood safety law effectively.


In the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, our people are our greatest asset.  We aim to attract the best people to join our team through a best practice recruitment process.”

(SFPA current staff levels in excess of 250)


                                                         *************************


BIM’s ‘strategy’

BIM’s vision is to lead the Irish Seafood sector through our effective support and deep expertise so that Ireland becomes the international leader in high value differentiated products that satisfy the growing demand for healthy, safe, responsibly and sustainably produced seafood.

(BIM current staff levels approximately 100)


                                                         *************************


  • POs and other industry representative organisations

(Current full time total staff levels less than 20)

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