Brexit must include fisheries issues

Brexit must include fisheries issues

12 April 2017

THE fisheries issue must be at the heart of the Brexit process, according to South Down MLA Chris Hazzard.

Last week, the former Stormont Infrastructure Minister was at the European Parliament in Brussels for a special conference focusing on the inequalities in fishing.

Mr Hazzard — who had an opportunity to address the conference — said the Co Down fishing industry needs a strong voice at the heart of the Brexit negotiations fighting on its behalf.

He continued: “I was delighted to attend and speak at the conference where I had the opportunity to meet with fish producers’ organisations from all over Ireland and to elected representatives from coastal communities.

“It was also an eye-opener to meet with like-minded people from the fishing industry in Spain and Portugal and to hear that their problems are the same as ours; unequal distribution of quota and a perception that they are ‘over policed,’ while so-called super trawlers seem to be able to wreak havoc in our oceans with no regulation or consequences.”

Mr Hazzard said the conference heard evidence about the amount of fish these huge vessels, some the size of a football pitch, discard, never mind catch off the Irish coast and the damage they are causing to the seabed, all marine life in their path and, crucially, the livelihoods of fishermen trying to make their living in the inshore sector.

“The constant refrain from officialdom is that we can do nothing about this. However, by the end of the conference, there was resolve to start to do something at home and in Brussels to stop these vessels doing what they like and destroying the environment and people’s livelihoods,” said Mr Hazzard.