Mayo fishermen are 'under severe pressure'
Most of the inshore fishing fleet in Mayo is dependent on good weather, the meeting heard.
Members of Mayo County Council have approved a call to support local inshore fishermen.
A joint notice of motion, submitted to the October meeting of local authority and signed by West Mayo councillors Sean Carey, Gerry Coyle and Paul McNamara, requested the council to write to the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Minister of State for Fisheries requesting "urgent consideration and implementation of a stabilisation and climate adaptation support package for Ireland’s inshore fishing sector".
Speaking on the motion, Cllr Sean Carey said: “This is very important motion regarding inshore fishermen and the dire straits they are in at the moment. They are the lifeline of local communities where they operate but are under severe pressure.
“From January to April this year, for 90 days, they were unable to fish, on safety grounds, because of weather conditions; this is coupled with their rising fuel and bait costs. They now have a package submission put together to government and I hope they will be supported.”
Cllr Carey said that 90% of the inshore fishing fleet are operating in smaller boats (under 12 metres), making them dependent on good weather. He said it is a problem for fishermen around the whole coast of Ireland “but particularly here in Mayo as we have so many small boats fishing and all our piers and harbours are dependent on this fishing community".
"When the mackerel season is in full swing there is great activity on the piers and harbours, with youngsters helping out and the whole community gains by it.”
Cllr Gerry Coyle added: “We have to give people a reason to live in these rural areas. Their mackerel fishing is so eco-friendly with the fish caught on a line, and no dumping waste into the sea; but everything has been cut, I believe in a deliberate attempt, to put them out of business.”
Cllr Jarlath Munnelly also backed the motion, saying: “I would like to support sustainability in fishing as this is what it is all about and that is a very important message for the council to have."
Cllr Neil Cruise asked that the motion be sent to all local authorities on the western seaboard to build up support for “the most sustainable method of fishing you will get".
- Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
