Wexford fishermen ‘on the menu’ as reduced quotas spell the ‘death of an industry’

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

Decisions made by the Agri-Fish Council in Europe will lead to the “death” of the fishing industry in Co Wexford unless senior ministers intervene. That was the stark warning issued by Councillor Jim Codd at the December meeting of the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD) as he reacted to the latest reduction in quotas for Irish fishermen.

Pointing to a once thriving economy in Kilmore Quay, Cllr Codd said that even in its current guise the fishing industry supports 500 jobs in this coastal community whether directly or indirectly, and brings approximately €71m into Co Wexford annually.

However, following the Agri-Fish Council’s decision to reduce Irish fishing quotas by up to 57,000 tonnes for 2026, Cllr Codd said it was becoming increasingly difficult to foresee a viable future for those fishing out of Kilmore Quay.

“The cuts to the quota will have a devastating effect, particularly on the fishing of sole,” he said as he referenced the removal of a mechanism which had previously protected Irish fishermen when their quotas were reduced. “The Hague Preference had been used every year in the Irish Sea; Ireland attempted to get it again for the south coast and failed; as a result what could have been 90 tonnes of sole is now 27 tonnes, which can be caught in two months.

“The Hague preference stood for 76 years and when the chips were down, our so-called friends in Europe were very quick to turn their backs on us. Irish fishermen are not at the table any more, they’re on the menu. The majority of fish being caught in Irish waters are not being caught by Irish boats, we are looking at the death of an industry here.”

In response Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy said he would write to Fisheries Minister Timmy Dooley and the Ireland South MEPs expressing the concerns of the district.

Further support for the fishermen came from the councillors in the Wexford Borough District who reiterated the need to contact Minister Dooley to outline their fears for the local fishing industry.

“We won’t have coastal communities for much longer, they’re going to wiped out,” said Cllr Raymond Shannon. “The fishing industry is on its knees, there’s Belgian boats coming in here taking hundreds of tonnes of fish that the Wexford boats can’t touch. We have to stand side by side with our fishing communities as a council.”

While there was agreement that correspondence needed to be sent to central government, Cllr Tom Forde said the true seat of power lay elsewhere and that Ireland was gradually being overpowered by its former allies.

“This has been happening for years and these latest changes are going to hit the fishermen hard, we can stand with them and contact the minister but the onus is on our MEPs to intervene, that’s where the power lies. Even at that, we don’t have enough representation in Europe. The minister himself has said he’s not happy about this, the smaller fishermen are being completely shafted.”

Cllr Leonard Kelly went a step further saying Ireland was effectively “insignificant” in the grand scheme of things and was “being pushed out by the bigger countries” in Europe.

“It’s a worrying time for the fishermen and also for the farming community,” he said alluding to recent protests regarding the Mercusor deal.