The EU fishing policy, which was negotiated in 1983, was a disaster for fishermen and women along the coastline. The implications are still being felt daily. The harbours in Balbriggan, Skerries and Lough Shinny were deemed to be surplus to requirements as far as Government national fishing policy was concerned. As a consequence, they were not upgraded and maintained. Today, the fishing industry in north Dublin consists of 19 small boats of an average size of 50 feet fishing for prawns and 11 fishing for razors. That contrasts with a thriving industry in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The Minister should put himself in the shoes of the fishermen. Last Friday evening they were informed by one of the officials in his Department that on the following Monday, as a consequence of Commission regulation EC304/2000, they would be prohibited from fishing for prawns in their traditional area, which stretches from north of Bray to south of Dundalk. That was to take effect from 14 February until 30 April 2000. At the same time they were informed that, by way of derogation, provided they adhered to certain mesh sizes and other requirements, they could fish at a location some 2.5 hours journey time north east of Skerries. That is unrealistic. Having regard to the size of their boats, the journey time and the weather conditions, the boats and their crews would be at risk given the severe weather in that part of the Irish Sea at this time of the year. This news devastated the fishermen and their families, who in any event were finding it extremely difficult to earn a living. Many of them have young families and large mortgages on their homes and boats.
The future of these few prawn fishermen lies in the balance due to circumstances outside their control, the need for the conservation of cod in the Irish Sea. People affected in other harbours may be able to pursue alternatives for the ten week period, given the size of their fleet, but the fishermen and women of Skerries, Lough Shinny and Balbriggan have no alternative to pursue during this period and such a prohibition from fishing may recur during the next four or five years.
I accept that this deal, unacceptable as it for the fishermen in question, has been signed off at national and EU level. However, I appeal to the Minister, in the context of justice and inclusiveness, to arrange a meeting between his officials, himself and the representatives of the fishermen concerned to agree a formula to compensate this small sector of the fishing industry which has got such a raw deal over the years. Given what they have endured down through the years, they deserve nothing less. They look forward to the Minister and the Deputies in their constituency supporting what I have said and what my colleague, Deputy Sargent, will say.
