EU: Generational renewal vital for fishery industry

Fishing communities in Ireland need “generational renewal” to halt their decline and become sustainable again, according to the European Union’s Commissioner of Fisheries Costas Kadis.

Speaking at an informal meeting of EU Fisheries Ministers hosted in Cork City Hall on Wednesday 29 July as part of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Kadis said that generational renewal was central to discussions.

“Generational renewal is a precondition for a thriving, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture sector,” he said.

“The question central to discussions is ‘Who will be fishing in 2040? Who will be running our aquaculture farms, working in our processing plants, and keeping our coastal communities alive?’”

He highlighted the fact that the average age in fishing communities across the EU is above 40.

“Young people are not entering the profession in the numbers we need. Coastal and rural areas are losing population, and these trends are structural and they run in the same direction in many member states,” he said.

He also said that while there have been “tangible positive results” from the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the increases to fish stocks and socio-economic developments in coastal communities is “not enough”.

However, Patrick Murphy, CEO of the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation, said that the problem lay with limits imposed on Irish fishers by the CFP, rather than a lack of young people entering the industry.

"Generational renewal is not possible when other country's fishermen have up to 16 times more fish in our waters than we are allowed to catch.

"If you spoke to anyone in the industry today, and asked them if they would like to see their child enter the industry, they'd tell you they wouldn't even want to see them get on the boat," he said.

Martin Heydon TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine said that the review into the Common Fisheries Policy highlighted a “multiplicity of issues”, which he said were hindering generational renewal.

These included the policy and legislative framework, funding provision, and funding access for safer and more efficient vessels and making provision for succession planning.

“The Irish Presidency considers that the necessary foundation of a supportive operating environment for fisheries and aquaculture is a fit-for-purpose regulatory framework.

“If we’re serious about securing a sustainable future for fisheries and aquaculture then we must provide a genuine entry pathway for young people who are considering a career in the fisheries sector,” he said.

He also highlighted the need to encourage more women to take up a career in the sector, and to improve workplace safety.

This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.