Fears for Louth jobs and local economy after EU fishing quota cut

Spokesman Niall Connolly warned: “In 2023 the Clogherhead fishing fleet generated €59 million and 294 jobs in the village. This deal done in Brussels will have a very negative effect on turnover and potentially lead to job losses in the area.”

He said it is a major blow to the local community and will result in a 21% decrease in the Irish Sea quota and a 38% decrease in the Porcupine Bank off the west coast of Ireland next year.

These cuts are coming on top of the more recent 15% reduction lost due to Brexit.

Mr Connolly stated: “Belgium, for example, which has a coastline approximately the same size as County Louth, will have a sole quota of 450 tonnes off the south coast of Ireland, and the Irish boats will be only allowed to catch 28 tonnes in our own waters. Sole is an important by-catch to the Clogherhead prawn boats. The mackerel quota has been reduced by 70%, which we fear will mean that the traditional mackerel boats will diversify into prawn fishing to make up for lost income, which will add more pressure on already reduced fishing opportunities in this fishery which the Clogherhead fleet rely on.”

There is also extreme annoyance that the Hague Preference—a binding agreement whereby Ireland granted access to other European fleets to fish in Irish waters and in return Ireland was to be granted extra quota if stocks fell below a certain level—was ignored. This arrangement has been in place for the last fifty years until last week’s deal when four countries—Germany, France, the Netherlands and Poland—blocked it being used to compensate Ireland for any quota lost from protecting fish stocks.

Mr Connolly is now demanding the Government take swift action to try and reverse this by appealing the blocking of the Hague Preference to the European Court of Justice.