Kilkenny MEP calls for swift action against Norway, the Faroes, Iceland and Russia

Sinn Féin MEP for Ireland South, Kathleen Funchion, has backed calls from Ireland's seafood and fisheries sector for action to be taken by the EU against coastal states who have been guilty of overfishing.

MEP Funchion, who is from Kilkenny, was commenting on reports on the latest scientific advice calling for a 70% reduction in the EU mackerel quota. A 41% cut to the blue whiting quota has also been recommended.

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"For far too long, successive Irish governments and the European Commission have been letting our coastal and fishing communities in Ireland take an unfair share of the burden when it comes to quota cuts," she said.

"I’m deeply concerned by reports of further severe quota cuts, which many in the seafood industry say are due to reckless overfishing by third-country coastal states; Norway, the Faroes, Iceland, and Russia.

"Indeed, I have previously written to the European Commission on these countries unilaterally and recklessly overfishing mackerel.

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"Enough is enough, and we in Ireland need to start demanding fairness for our coastal and fishing communities.

"Therefore, I have written to the European Commission again demanding they work to protect Ireland from these quota reductions, as I believe that we have already taken more than our fair share of the burden since Brexit.

"Our coastal and fishing communities should be places of sustainable employment and cultural and economic activity, and we should all be working towards supporting them to achieve this.

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"These cuts, if carried through, would be catastrophic to the local economy of those communities."

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