Concerns of the Fishing Concerns of the Fishing IndustryIndustry

Iascairí Intíre Cois Cladach na Iascairí Intíre Cois Cladach na hÉireann (IIE)hÉireann (IIE)

Presented by Eamon O’CorcoraPresented by Eamon O’Corcora

IssuesIssues• Inability to Fish• Loss of Income due to bad weather• Loss of Fishing Gear• Damage to boats• Damage to Equipment• Lack of governmental response• Level of Debt• Loss to local economy of the costal and rural

communities and other small and medium enterprises

• Loss of revenue to the exchequer

No Fishing/Loss of IncomeNo Fishing/Loss of Income• No Fishing - 12 week period during storms where

vessels were unable to go to sea• No income to sustain households• No income to purchase new fishing gear• No income to make repairs to boats• No income to purchase new safety equipment• No disposable income to purchase goods in the

local economy• No access to social welfare - Fishermen are self

employed and run small and medium enterprises

Level of SupportLevel of Support• No government support – previous scheme unviable, no

bad weather money• EU support for fishing industry?????????• Other countries’ fishermen have received funding from

Europe but nothing for the Irish fleet – WHY?• Farmers received support why not fishermen• No income to pay upfront for fishing gear• No bank will loan to SMEs (80 % of Fishing fleet i.e. ~

2000 boats (SMEs))• Limited access to credit from suppliers• No debt write down• No compensation offered due to bad weather unlike

1991 scheme

ProposalsProposals• Adequate Financial Support –

compensation fund• Compensation scheme to be administered

directly by Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

• Fully licensed compliant fishermen, i.e. Code of Practice up to date – across the board compensation – everyone lost money

• Future proofing against further bad weather - Permanent fund in place for adverse weather events

Impact of CompensationImpact of Compensation

• Allows fishermen (SMEs) to return to fishing and earn an income to support them and their hard pressed families

• Fishermen spend locally thereby boosting the local economy (SMEs)

• Purchase of new fishing gear thereby increasing sales to the suppliers (SMEs)

• Purchase of new safety equipment - EPIRBs to be replaced at a cost of 600 euros even if you only got a new one last year

• Training courses to be completed• Boat Insurance to be paid• Will help clear debt burden for last year• This in turn will increase the tax revenue to the state

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Moral of the Story

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