{"id":141541,"date":"2025-10-23T23:19:12","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T23:19:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/141541\/"},"modified":"2025-10-23T23:19:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T23:19:12","slug":"pat-the-cope-heralds-economic-armageddon-for-fishing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/141541\/","title":{"rendered":"Pat the Cope heralds ‘economic Armageddon’ for fishing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher TD has warned that Ireland is facing the worst crisis in the history of its fishing and processing sector, describing the situation as \u201ca real Economic Armageddon\u201d for coastal communities and the wider marine economy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Speaking during his statement in the D\u00e1il on Wednesday, 22 October, in the presence of the Marine Minister Timmy Dooley TD, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon TD, and other members of Government, Deputy Gallagher said that unless drastic action is taken in the coming weeks, Ireland will experience \u201cthe most devastating fallout since the foundation of the State.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the past five years, Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands have overfished mackerel by one million tonnes. In some years, Norway alone has overfished by 55%. These are the same countries calling for sustainable fishing \u2014 yet it is Ireland that faces devastating quota cuts,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Deputy Gallagher said the roots of the current crisis go back to the Brexit negotiations, when Ireland made disproportionate sacrifices to secure the wider EU deal.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fishing industry was thrown under the bus to secure Brexit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHad Ireland threatened to veto the Brexit deal, we would not have this problem today. We would have had a dispute with Europe \u2014 but we would still have the mackerel we gave away to secure Brexit. Our fishermen and processors have paid the heaviest price for political expediency.\u201d<\/p>\n

He warned that the catching, processing, and ancillary service sectors will all be severely hit.<\/p>\n

Deputy Gallagher said the scale of the proposed pelagic and demersal quota cuts for 2026 is unprecedented and threatens to dismantle Ireland\u2019s fishing industry. The number of whitefish stocks now at zero-catch limits is unprecedented in scale.<\/p>\n

The pelagic sector \u2014 covering mackerel, blue whiting, and boarfish \u2014 faces reductions of 70%, 41%, and 22%, while demersal species such as cod, haddock, and whiting in the Celtic Sea face zero-catch advice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the biggest cut in fishing opportunities in our history,\u201d he said. \u201cThe pelagic and demersal fleets alike are staring at ruin. These proposals will wipe out the economic base of many coastal towns.\u201d<\/p>\n

Industry analysis shows a likely \u20ac130 million fall in quota value, with the pelagic fleet losing around 36% of its fishing opportunities. The processing sector could contract by \u20ac180\u2013200 million within 12 months, with up to 2,400 jobs affected across the seafood economy.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are facing the loss of up to 50% of our national quota value,\u201d Deputy Gallagher warned. \u201cFactories are already preparing to close, and rural communities in Donegal, Cork, Galway, and Kerry will be devastated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Deputy Gallagher said Ireland must immediately invoke all Hague Preference entitlements at the upcoming December Fisheries Council.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Hague Preferences must be invoked in full,\u201d he said. \u201cThey were designed to protect countries like Ireland that depend heavily on fishing. Applying them is essential to defend our national interests and protect thousands of livelihoods.\u201d<\/p>\n

Deputy Gallagher called on the Government to activate Regulation (EU) No. 1026\/2012, which allows for market-access and trade restrictions against third countries engaged in unsustainable overfishing, and to invoke all Hague Preference entitlements at the December Fisheries Council.<\/p>\n

\u201cNorway is the chief architect of the destruction of the mackerel stock and must be denied access to Irish waters,\u201d he said. \u201cIreland and the EU must deliver a strongly united no to Norway and ensure trade measures are fully applied.\u201d<\/p>\n

He urged the Marine Minister Timmy Dooley TD, together with the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris TD, to lead an urgent diplomatic and political offensive to protect Ireland\u2019s interests.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll EU Ambassadors should be summoned and briefed on the severe implications for Ireland,\u201d he said. \u201cThey must inform their Ministers and secure support at the upcoming Council of Fisheries Ministers meetings in December.\u201d<\/p>\n

Deputy Gallagher said long-standing weaknesses within the Department of Marine and excessive SFPA regulation are undermining Ireland\u2019s competitiveness and driving foreign landings away.<\/p>\n

He called for a redraft of the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, the re-introduction of in-factory weighing, and an all-of-government approach to protect the sector.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Department must strengthen its representation in Brussels and fully back our fishing communities,\u201d he said. \u201cIf we fail to act now, we will pay the greatest price due to our own incompetence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pat the Cope heralds \u2018economic Armageddon\u2019 for fishing was last modified: October 23rd, 2025 by Rachel McLaughlin<\/p>\n

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