Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Dr. Hynes and Dr. Delaney to this meeting and thank them for their helpful and constructive presentations. From an overall economic perspective, Dr. Hynes' contribution highlights the importance of coastal areas, while also pointing out the dependence of coastal communities on marine-related activities, whether that is fishing itself or fishing-related services. It is interesting to note that the service sector employs more people and generates more income than the actual fishing. That is not really surprising, given the many challenges facing coastal communities, not least those outlined by Dr. Delaney in terms of the restrictions placed on local fishing activity. Often, a lot of the economic benefit of certain activities is obtained by few people. In other words, the bigger operators are catching most of the fish and the smaller operators living in the area are unable to catch the fish swimming past their door.

I come from Donegal, which has a number of island communities. One of the legislative changes introduced by my party, Fianna Fáil, in government in 2006 - that is, the banning of salmon drift-net fishing - was disastrous in many ways.

It was based on scientific evidence but ignored social, cultural and traditional factors because this was a way of life for many people. Coupled with other restrictions on the fish that could be caught in certain areas, it brought about major economic and social deprivation for those islands and along the coast of Donegal. How can we change that?

Inland Fisheries Ireland would argue differently, that we cannot go back and open up salmon fishing, even on a controlled basis. I would argue against that because the figures show, as does Dr. Delaney's survival plan for the Donegal islands, that there are 250,000 to 300,000 salmon moving into that area. The rivers are stocking again. The major challenge is not the problems at sea, but pollution in rivers and the complete lack of policing of the rivers to prevent poaching while salmon are moving upstream. The seals along the coast are also causing major problems with the salmon stock. They are catching large numbers of salmon when they go into an estuary before heading upstream. The decision to ban drift net salmon, without dealing with some of the other issues, was wrong and has had major social consequences.

The committee met with representatives of the island communities in Donegal. What is Dr. Delaney's view of how the salmon ban could be lifted on a sustainable basis? Could that be considered? Will the current review of the CFP see policy change to protect smaller regional fisheries that are not hard-core economic fisheries but where the communities could benefit economically and socially? Depopulation of coastal communities in the west is a major issue. Some of the CSO figures in Dr. Hynes's report show depopulation is happening more rapidly in coastal areas than in other parts of the country. How can we stem that? Is there a need to ensure any decision taken at European or national level is socially proofed? A single decision in a small rural area has a knock-on effect on the local economy.

Previously it was a way of life in island communities for young people to follow their fathers into the fishing sector. When leaving school early was banned, those people were caught because their way of life was removed. A small compensation package was made available but in the overall scheme of things, it was peanuts.

It strikes me that the CAP and CFP both cover traditional ways of life over the generations. Transfers into Ireland of €1.5 billion under the CAP are available to farmers, through environmental schemes in particular. On the fishing side there has not been any scheme made available at a European level for fishermen on an annual basis. Is that a mistake? Is it too late to turn back the clock or should it be looked at for those who have been disenfranchised as a result of policy decisions at European level under the auspices of scientific research and conservation? In agriculture, there is compensation available for the decisions that are taken on that basis and that is not happening for the fishing sector.

The fleet capacity is linked to compensation. The smaller fishermen would have fleet that is deteriorating and losing value. If some fishing activity was to be reopened and the changes outlined in the document took place, with the easing of the salmon ban and area 6A regulations, is there a need for a centralised fund to upgrade smaller fishing vessels of up to 15 m?

I have seen in the past 15 years young people leaving rural areas because European regulations and Government decisions mean there is no employment. That is wrong and at European level, small coastal communities must be protected. It is fine to say this will happen in reports but things are not working out that way on the ground.

If changes were introduced on regulations within the 12 mile limit on the fish that are caught or on the salmon ban to allow locals to catch mixed stock inside the 12 mile limit, or if the salmon ban was lifted on a phased basis over a period of time, what would the economic benefit be to rural communities? Anecdotally, what would the witnesses' view be? That is a relevant question for NUI Galway as well because this has a major impact on the island communities off Connemara and the western counties as far south as Kerry.

In Donegal this had a major impact. I remember in the 1980s, my father was an inspector with the Department of the Marine and he would visit Burtonport pier and similar piers along the west coast of Donegal. All the boats would be lined up and 60 vessels would be landing salmon. There are no vessels coming in with any fish at the moment in some of those ports. It is sad to see but we must find a balance between conservation and allowing people to continue a way of life, and to remain at home if they want to, continuing the traditional way of life they always had. How can this committee argue with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, and Inland Fisheries Ireland in a manner that might persuade them?

How can we present the arguments in a manner that might be attractive to those various State organisations?