Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 24 January 2024

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Crisis in Ireland's Inshore Fishing Industry: Discussion

Mr. Michael Desmond:

We hope not but we know that certain marine NGOs are looking for that. Marine protected areas, MPAs, are coming whether we like it or not - we are aware of that fact - but they cannot be just brought in with no fishing area for the sake of it. You hear certain NGOs state that there should be no fishing in 10% of the waters. Where? In the inshore grounds? In the offshore grounds? They say, "It does not matter - just somewhere." Their 10% could be my 100%. If outside Belmullet the bay is closed, or Inver in Donegal is closed, or Roaringwater Bay is closed, if that is part of the 10%, that is our 100%.