Jo-Anne Dobson, Ulster Unionist MLA and Party Agriculture Spokesperson has urged the Agriculture Minister and her officials to robustly defend the interests of the local fishing industry at the coming December Fisheries Council meeting.   

Speaking following her questioning of officials at the Stormont Agriculture Committee Mrs Dobson revealed that proposed cuts to the TAC (total allowable catch) for Area VII Nephrops (prawns) by the European Commission could have the potential to remove as much as £4.5M from the industry.   

Commenting she said: “Prawns are the most lucrative catch for our local fishermen and any cut would wield a serious blow to them and their families.   

“I fully appreciate that the scientific advice is key to the Departments negotiating strategy at the Council meeting, however given that many other member states do not fish their full Nephrop quota in this area the case is strong for retention or increase in the local TAC. 

“In many cases cuts in the TAC can have more to do with politics and less to do with science.  That is why we need a strong negotiating position from the Department to defend an industry which sustains local jobs and communities.” 

At the committee Mrs Dobson challenged the DARD officials on the robustness of the science behind the argument - she said: “It is widely believed that the scientific advice this year for the Nephrop TAC is poorer than last year’s, which resulted in a 6% increase and an injection of some £900,000 into the industry.   

“Jim Nicholson MEP organised a recent visit to Northern Ireland of Bernhard Friess of the European Commission’s Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Directorate-General.  At a meeting in Kilkeel, alongside industry representatives Jim and I expressed in the strongest terms the need for the retention of the TAC and the impact of any cuts on fishermen and their families.   

“It is critical that DARD fight the corner for Northern Ireland trawler owners, crew members and all of those involved in the shore based fishing industry.  Not to do so and to allow cuts in the TAC of as much as 25% would be catastrophic for the Northern Ireland agri-food industry as a whole.”