Young Donegal fisherwoman Muireann Kavanagh brought her campaign for the reopening of line-caught pollack fishery directly to the European Parliament’s door yesterday.
The 14-year-old, determined to protect her family’s fishing heritage and her own future, visited Strasbourg ready to make waves.
Yesterday she met with key decision-makers to voice her fears for Irish fishing communities affected by the zero-catch scenario recommended to rebuild pollock stock off the northwest.
Muireann said: “For me it is vitally important to explain to the European officials just how hopeless I feel my future is as a young fisherwoman. My family have fished for pollock in a sustainable way for generations and it makes me sad and angry that I cannot do the same. I feel that fishing communities in Ireland are not getting fairness and I have made that very clear in every meeting here in the parliament.”
When young Muireann left her home on the island of Arranmore this week it was the beginning of a very long journey to the European Parliament.
A trip taking over 24 hours saw Muireann and her parents Neily and Donna taking the ferry from Arranmore to Burtonport, then to Letterkenny by car and to Dublin by bus, before flying to Frankfurt on a plane to finally arrive in Strasbourg by train where her host warmly welcomed her for the visit, MEP Chris MacManus.
Left to right: João Pimenta MEP (Coordinator for the Left Group for the Fisheries Committee), Muireann Kavanagh, Neily Kavanagh and Chris MacManus MEP at the European Parliament in Strasbourg
Suitably dressed in her striking yellow fishing overalls, Muireann got straight to work. The work in question was securing a future in fishing for herself and many other young people living in coastal and island communities.
The young fisherwoman met a number of high-ranking MEPs including João Pimenta MEP, Coordinator for the Left Group for the Fisheries Committee, Pierre Karleskind MEP, Chairperson of European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee and Younous Omarjee the chair of the Parliament’s Committee on Regional Development.
Left to right: Pierre Karleskind MEP (Chair of European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee), Chris MacManus MEP, Muireann Kavanagh and Neily Kavanagh at the European Parliament in Strasbourg
Speaking from the parliament, Muireann said “I am delighted to be here in Strasbourg and I’m very grateful that MEP MacManus organised this opportunity to speak directly to the decision makers in the European parliament.”
MEP Chris MacManus said he was struck by Muireann’s passion and determination, “Muireann is a young fisherwoman from the island of Arranmore in county Donegal and has been rightly vocal on the need to ensure a future for young people in coastal and fishing communities.”
“On the back of the Pollock fishing ban, Muireann made headlines when her handwritten letter to the fisheries minister was widely circulated on social media. Following that I went to visit Muireann at her school Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada on Arranmore to hear her story firsthand. I highlighted Muireann’s story in a European Parliament speech but I felt in was essential that she could come here to tell her story in person.”
Neily Kavanagh, Muireann Kavanagh, Younous Omarjee (chair of the Parliament’s Committee on Regional Development), Chris MacManus MEP and Donna Kavanagh at the European Parliament in Strasbourg
The Midlands Northwest MEP subsequently invited the young islander to the European Parliament so she could tell her story directly to the relevant legislators.
MEP MacManus added, “This is Muireann’s story, this is Muireann’s week. I was more than happy to facilitate her and her family so her story can be heard loud and clear in the corridors of power. She deserves to be heard. Young Irish fisherwoman and men deserve fairness and they deserve a future. As MEPs we must fight to provide a future for young people like Muireann Kavanagh.”
Muireann Kavanagh pictured with her father Neily at the European Parliament in Strasbourg
