17th December, 2009

Irish Wildlife Trust make submission to the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)

 As an island nation our marine and fisheries resources are a vital component of our natural and cultural heritage. Its sustainable use is therefore an essential element in preserving our rich biodiversity and economic well-being. The CFP has been an abject failure resulting in the widespread destruction of Europe’s marine habitats by over-fishing leading to the loss of once abundant fish stocks.

 IWT chairman Pádraic Fogarty says:

 “Business as usual means that soon there will be no more fish in the sea and our vast oceans will become a dead zone, depriving communities of livelihoods and depriving future generations of the bountiful resources provided by the sea.”

 Harvesting wild fish stocks makes an important contribution to our economy, contributes to the well-being of communities and strengthens our society as an island nation. For these reasons we will support the reform of the CFP in ensuring:

 ·      No species, either ‘target’ or ‘non-target’, is allowed to fall outside safe biological limits. Scientific advice must determine the amount of fishing resources available to be caught in any one period. Failure to follow scientific advice will further threaten valuable fish stocks and the communities upon which they rely.

·      Fishing must not result in the destruction of marine habitats. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) can play an important role in preserving marine habitat and creating havens where stocks can flourish providing greater abundance in surrounding areas. However, the designation and extent of MPAs must be carried out in dialogue with fishers.

·      Waste and ‘by catch’ must be eliminated through stricter reporting and the advancement of appropriate technology.

·      Overfishing can be further reduced by creating the conditions whereby high quality fish products receive favourable prices. At present local products are in competition with cheap imports, driving down costs and motivating overfishing.

·      Every high tide in Ireland brings with it a fresh layer of plastic detritus that has been illegally dumped at sea. This is causing untold damage to worldwide ecosystems by killing animals that directly ingest it. EU waste legislation must be more strictly enforced while new technologies should be developed so that the use of synthetic plastic in fishing lines is phased out in favour of biodegradable materials.

·      The Council of Ministers must heed scientific advice. It is neither realistic nor appropriate to use scientific data as a starting point for compromise or negotiation.

 To-date, the CFP has made the EU a basket case compared with other countries concerned with marine conservation such as Iceland or Norway. Lessons have not been learned, scientists ignored and all the while the oceans have been depleted of their diversity and communities of their livelihoods.

 This review of the CFP is an opportunity to change all that but only if we reach out to all stakeholders and look beyond the blinkered political short-termism that has ruined our seas and communities. For our part, the IWT will campaign to ensure that this dialogue is productive and this opportunity is seized.

 ENDS

 For further information please contact: Padraic Fogarty, IWT Chairman. Phone: 01 8602839. Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

Editors Notes:The Irish Wildlife Trust was founded in 1979 as a charitable conservation body. We provide the public with information about wildlife, run education and training programs like SAC Watch and Nature in the Parks, carry out habitat and species surveys like the IWT National Lizard Survey, campaign and lobby around biodiversity issues, restore natural habitats, consult with industry, agriculture and Local Authorities to maintain our natural heritage and contribute to national and international forums for the protection of biodiversity. The IWT is a nationwide organisation with a strong membership base, staff and Board of Directors, with branches in Limerick, Waterford, Cork, Tipperary and Clare.