Dingle Fishermen protest

Forced to dump their own fish while imports are branded as 'Irish'
Dingle fishermen call for Government and EU action to save local fishing industry

The fishermen of Dingle took a stand this week on Dingle Pier, as they protested in solidarity with fishermen all over the country, drawing attention to the fact that while non-EU fish is being imported into Ireland to be sold and branded as 'Irish' fish; they are forced to dump large proportions of their catches to comply with EU quotas. Highlighting the dire state of Ireland's fishing economy, the peaceful protest was staged at Dingle Pier throughout Tuesday as the fishermen of West Kerry spoke out against rising diesel prices, the importation of non-EU fish into Ireland, the imposition of quotas and stringent EU regulation which they feel is about to extinguish one of Kerry's traditional industries.
"With all the talk about the Lisbon Treaty and what Europe has done for us, there has been nothing said about the state the Irish fishing industry is in, because of the EU" said the protesting fishermen's representative.
"In order to comply with the quotas set upon us by the EU, we have to dump a lot of our catches at sea or we will be penalised, this is insane."
Despite this surplus, the fishermen protesting say that thousands of tonnes of non-EU fish is being exported into the country; sold and branded as Irish fish. They are calling for the Government and the Department of the Marine to step in and negotiate some sort of traceability system similar to the one in place for Irish meat produce. "Now, fish from Non-EU countries is being exported into the country and being sold as Irish fish, yet we have to dump our own catches, it's a disgrace" said the spokesperson. Rising fuel costs was cited as another reason for the protest as the cost of fishing at, according to the fishermen, the price of fuelling their boats has doubled since this time last year due to the surges in Irish diesel and oil prices. "We just can't go on like this, someone needs to come to the table and start talking sooner rather than later or else Kerry's fishing industry will soon become a thing of the past. How can we condone a Europe that makes us dump our own fish while allowing non-EU imports to be sold in Ireland as Irish fish? How come we are restricted in fishing in our own waters while other fleets can plunder billions from our seas?" said the spokesperson. "Something has to be done or else the fishing industry in Kerry and the rest of the country is finished."