Thomas Pringle TD has today commended the fisherman who gave away his catch of monkfish rather than throw it back in the sea because of EU rules.
Speaking on the matter today, the Independent TD for Donegal South West stated: “It was a brave decision by this skipper from Co. Wexford to highlight the crazy situation on Irish fishing quotas.
“This action which highlights a campaign to oppose the EU rule that requires over-quota fish to be discarded is an admirable move to demonstrate the hardship and grave injustice that our fishermen are experiencing.”
At present in Irish waters the French have 47% of the monkfish quota and the Spanish have 22%, leaving the Irish with only 7% of this take in our own waters – a situation described as ‘utterly ridiculous” by Deputy Pringle.
“These 5,000 kilos of monkfish which skipper Seamus O’Flaherty caught was his monthly quota which was fished in 5 days, leaving this man unable to monkfish for three weeks now.
“While it is of the upmost importance that our waters are not overfished, this event symbolises the plight of our fishermen who have such a small quota in our own waters compared to our European neighbours,” added Pringle.
“I am therefore calling on Minister Coveney and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority not to prosecute this man for what I view as a legitimate protest.”