'2,200 jobs are on the line in fishing, processing, transport and services sectors’

Rogue coastal states such as Norway, the Faroe Islands and Iceland have been blamed for the mackerel collapse, while the United Kingdom “acts as an apprentice”.

That’s the opinion of Donegal TD and member of the joint Oireachtas Committee for the Marine, Pat the Cope Gallagher.

Mr Gallagher, a former MEP,  said that the European Union has ”stood idly by, in a state of complete paralysis” as coastal states are overfishing.

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“The announcement by the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) that mackerel stocks are to be recommended to be cut by 70% in line with their scientific advice is shocking, beyond the point of being incredible and will have massive consequences for Ireland’s catching and processing sectors,” he said.

“The reality of numerous years of gross overfishing by Norway, the Faroe Islands and Iceland, aided and abetted by the United Kingdom, trading in super-inflated autonomous quotas with these coastal states for fishing access to UK waters, has led us to the abyss, with the decimation of mackerel stocks added Pat the Cope.  

“All throughout this period of overfishing by these coastal states, the European Union has stood idly by, in a state of complete paralysis, failing to protect its Member States from the plundering of stocks going on in plain sight of the world. The failure of the EU to introduce trade measures and market access restrictions has allowed this situation to come to the point we now find ourselves in. 

“Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands are rogue States, while the United Kingdom is a rogue state apprentice. Russian fishing activity in international waters is growing exponentially without any regulation or knowledge of quantities landed, but we need to investigate where exactly is the Russian fish is being transhipped through and landed in some cases.  

“Ireland has to immediately notify the EU Commission that any third country engaged in overfishing cannot be given access to fish west of Ireland under any annual agreement with the European Union. The TCA access arrangement will be upheld, as it is a legal agreement. 

“Similar to Brexit, Ireland will pay the lion's share of this illegal activity, due to our massive dependence on mackerel stocks, since 2022 and including this proposed cut, Irish mackerel’s quota will have been savaged by 86% within five years due to the activities of others in both cases.”

Mr Gallagher said Ireland cannot stand back and must challenge the decision, which will have huge impacts on the country.

“The Irish Government need to take immediate action at the European Level, and every avenue needs to be explored,” he said. “In addition, measures to support the pelagic sector need to be put in place for both the catching and processing sectors - over 2,200 jobs are now on the line in the fishing, processing, transport and services sectors. Coastal communities are facing very uncertain times, as Blue Whiting and Boarfish are also subject to quota cuts in the advice issued.

“The publication of advice for three of Ireland's main pelagic stocks will make Brexit losses, massive as they were, look like a minor glitch, such is the scale of the cuts. To date, Ireland has transferred €220million of quota to the UK, and by the end of the TCA extension, that will be €1 billion of fish. After the announcement, it is easier to state that there is nothing left to give to vessels or factories.”