Ritchie Says Fishing Industry Needs More Freedom From Brussels Control

SDLP South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has spoken in a debate in the House of Commons on the future of Common Fisheries Policy which is due to be reviewed by the European Commission this December.

Ms Ritchie met with the minister responsible for Fisheries last month to emphasise the importance of fishing as a contributor to the local economy in South Down.

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has called on the EU to give local fishermen more say in the management of their fisheries.

She said, “Both Ardglass and Kilkeel in my constituency rely on fishing  to boost the local community– both off-shore in fishing effort and on shore in fish processing. 

"These towns have been subject to European Union regulations over the past number of years which have resulted in reduced quota allocations for fish species which has been particularly damaging for valuable species such as nephrops (prawns). These proposals combined with other measures, including days at sea restrictions and the Cod Recovery Plan, are often based on incomplete and inconclusive evidence.

"Local fishermen and those involved in the food processing sector would like to see not only the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, but a policy of regionalisation within fisheries.

"I urge the Minister leading the UK delegation at the European Union’s December Fisheries Council to press the Commission regarding flaws in the long-term Cod Recovery Plan and to push for the devolution or transfer of power to the regions.”

Currently when fishing boats have exceeded their quota for cod, fish that they have caught must by EU law be dumped back into the sea. Most of the trawlers in the Irish fleet now are prawn trawlers fishing off the bottom of the sea bed and at time catching cod is unavoidable. 

Ms Ritchie added, "We must see earnest intent to devolve power to the regions, whilst making decisions that enable the fishing industry to be sustained and for livelihoods to be maintained.  We hope that the Minister will be able to achieve success at the negotiations in Brussels in a month’s time which will result in the maintenance and growth of not only the fishing industry, but also the local economy.”