Ferris seeks compensation for inshore fishermen

The possibility of compensation for inshore fishermen, in particular trawlers under 15 m, many of whom had not been able to put to sea from 3 November up to early January, due to the recent storms, was raised in the Dáil by Sinn Fein Deputy Martin Ferris.

“Most boats have been tied up since 3 November and some have not been at sea for 75 days,” he said. “I am not talking only about the boat owner but the crew. The boat owner and the crew are self-employed people. They have enormous difficulty in accessing support from the Department of Social Protection. In order to get support one has to produce earnings for the previous year from one's accountant and so forth. That is creating huge difficulties. Most people involved in the sector, the crew and boat owners, are only barely surviving. We talked earlier about farm income at €47,000 per year but for most people involved in this sector their earnings are less than €15,000 and way below the minimum wage.”

In reply, Marine Minister Simon Coveney said fishermen who may be experiencing financial difficulties while ashore during periods of adverse weather should contact the Department of Social Protection which offers income support payments, subject to certain eligibility criteria.

“The National Inshore Fisheries Forum has invited the Department of Social Protection to its meeting to discuss social protection policies relevant to the inshore fishing sector,” he said.

The new Seafood Development Operational Programme under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund was adopted by the European Commission in December 2015, he said. That programme provides a comprehensive range of supports for the seafood sector worth €241 million, including a dedicated scheme of supports for the inshore sector to address the various economic and sustainability challenges facing the sector.

“In regard to specific measures to support fishermen affected by significant losses arising from adverse weather events, the EMFF and the operational programme provide for the establishment by fishermen of a mutual fund for adverse climatic events and environmental incidents, which when established can provide aid to fishermen affiliated to the fund in line with pre-defined rules,” he said. “The operational programme will co-fund the mutual fund, together with subscriptions from member fishermen. In that sense, the viability of such a mutual fund is dependent on the extent to which fishermen commit to membership of that fund.”