Ireland’s leading maritime newspaper covering the Coastal, Fishing and Maritime Communities
MARINE TIMES NEWS October 7th:
Collins warns of devastating consequences for Irish fishing industry
Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins TD has again warned that the proposed cuts to Ireland’s fish quotas could have “devastating and irreversible” consequences for coastal communities if the Government fails to act.
Deputy Collins said the scale of the reductions now being discussed in Brussels represents nothing short of an existential threat to Ireland’s fishing industry. He said the State “cannot stand idly by” while thousands of livelihoods hang in the balance.
Speaking following new advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), which recommends a 70 per cent cut in the mackerel quota along with steep reductions in blue whiting and boarfish, Deputy Collins said the move would decimate the country’s most valuable fishery.
“The scale of what’s being proposed is catastrophic,” he said. “We’re not talking about marginal adjustments. We’re talking about the possible collapse of entire fleets and the destruction of the towns and villages that depend on them. If this goes ahead, it will tear the heart out of coastal Ireland.”
The Cork South-West TD said that fishing families, processors, and small coastal businesses are already struggling to survive under the weight of existing restrictions and costs. He said further quota cuts would force vessels to tie up and close long-standing family enterprises.
“This isn’t just about the men and women who go to sea,” Collins said. “Every job on a boat supports several more onshore — from net makers and engineers to lorry drivers, shopkeepers and processors. When the boats stop, entire communities stop. It’s as simple and as cruel as that.”
Collins accused successive governments of failing to defend Ireland’s interests in Europe and of accepting a “second-class deal” under the Common Fisheries Policy. He said Ireland’s share of quotas remains disproportionately small despite the size of its waters and resources.
“It’s scandalous that non-EU countries like Norway, Iceland and the Faroes can fish shared stocks to the hilt while our own boats are tied to the pier,” he said.
He called on the Minister for the Marine to “stand up and fight” at the upcoming EU Fisheries Council in December, warning that the time for polite diplomacy had long passed.
“The Government must lead a coalition of coastal states and insist on fairness in how these quotas are shared,” he said. “If that means challenging Brussels, then so be it. This is a defining moment for Ireland’s fishing industry, and history will not forgive us if we turn away.”
Collins also called for emergency financial support to be made available to those directly affected and said that Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the Marine Institute should be tasked with preparing an immediate crisis-response plan.
“This isn’t just an economic issue,” he said. “It’s about preserving our coastal heritage, our identity and our future. Fishing is part of who we are. If we allow it to die on our watch, no amount of hand-wringing later will bring it back.”
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