I have every confidence in the future of the Irish fishing industry and in the ability of Irish fishermen and processors to rise to the challenges facing the sector. I am committed to working with the industry to meet those challenges.
The EU Common Fisheries Policy is concerned with the orderly management of the industry and the conservation of EU stocks so as to ensure a future for the fishing industry. The main policy instruments used in the Common Fisheries Policy are fleet capacity reductions and quotas. Despite the constraints substantial progress has been made in recent years to enhance the economic contribution of the Irish fishing industry within the overall framework of the Common Fisheries Policy.
The operational programme for fisheries is providing for a total investment of £140 million in the industry in the period 1994-99 and will help to create up to 2,000 new jobs in processing and aquaculture, while maintaining jobs in the catching sector. To improve the efficiency and age profile of the fleet over £11 million has been earmarked for boat modernisation and the decommissioning scheme.