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

There is a serious crisis in the inshore fishing sector. The sector has been denied the ability to fish for pollock and is questioning the methodology behind that. The price of crab, lobster and a range of shellfish species has either halved or just collapsed. The crisis with shrimp prices is ongoing since last year. The sector urgently needs support. Those in the sector have engaged with the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, at a number of meetings. At this stage, the sector is in need of urgent support from the State.

My job as Sinn Féin spokesperson on fisheries involves engaging with fishermen all around the coast. The Minister of State represents a coastal community, so she will understand the issues involved. What is happening all around the coast is quite heartbreaking. We are talking about people in coastal and island communities who have intergenerational experience of fishing.

There has been much discussion about a crisis right across the industry, particularly in the aftermath of Brexit, but I am specifically focusing my comments on the inshore sector. Those in the sector would have been able to fish for salmon in the past; they can no longer do so. They cannot fish for pollock. The option to fish for spurdog has not materialised because of the size of fish people are allowed to catch. It just is not working. The only option the sector had left was that relating to shellfish. I met a fisherman from Wexford recently. He read out a message from another fisherman, and he broke down. He had already told me before that his son has left the sector. This man is the only one in his family who is still fishing. People are going out fishing alone in many instances. That is not safe but they have to do it. As stated, the man in question broke down. I would be worried for the well-being of the other fisherman. That is how devastated these people are about what is happening.

I do not know why this is not being shouted from the rooftops or why the media does not seem to have the interest in fishing, but there is a profound crisis. That has an impact not just on fishermen but also fish processors. When you talk to the organisations that represent fish processors, they will tell you the same thing.

I cannot stress how urgent it is that the Government intervene and try to give the sector some financial support to keep it going. If something is not done soon, I genuinely believe that we will be facing a collapse of our traditional fishing industry. That collapse will start with inshore fishing and move outward. We have already decommissioned another huge percentage of offshore boats. I have spoken to too many inshore fishermen to doubt that this is a profound and unprecedented crisis. The collapse of the shellfish sector is just the final straw. It did not get any support in terms of fuel subsidies and it did not get tie-up schemes after Brexit. I cannot stress how urgent it is to have an intervention. I am seeking confirmation tonight that there will be a financial intervention. If this agriculture was being affected in this way, we would not let it continue. The Government would have intervened before now. Just because the numbers of fishermen are small compared with those involved in agriculture does not mean that we can let a noble tradition die. That is the stage we are at. I am not exaggerating. I have talked to too many people in the sector now and have double-checked what is happening. This is a serious and profound crisis.

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