Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister will know that this is the optimum time of year for the crab fishery. It has been devastating for them to hear that the factories have said they cannot take any more and just do not have a market. I think the European market has collapsed and the Chinese market has been impacted. This is, it appears to me, an unprecedented crisis when everything else is added. I appreciate that the Minister had a meeting recently with the different organisations. It is good that the islands and the IIMRO and NIFA have producer organisations, but they have to be resourced, supported and empowered. I would like to see a really dedicated focus. The reason I have raised this today is what I am hearing from our inshore fishermen. It should be remembered that they were denied salmon and do not have a share of herring or mackerel. The shellfish fishery is their livelihood and it is in collapse. There needs to be an intervention. I ask the Minister to examine all options to try to help them at this time.

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