Brave fishermen from Dingle saved five Scottish fishermen whose trawler got into difficulty off the Atlantic coast yesterday. The Scots were brought safely to Kerry and are fine now.
But what were they doing fishing off the coast of Dingle? Why weren’t they off the coast of Scotland, either in the far North Atlantic off the Hebrides or deep in the North Sea off Aberdeen?
They are fishing in Irish waters because that’s where the fish are. Irish waters are amongst the richest in the world.
The rest of Europe can fish our waters because one of the conditions we signed up to on entering the EEC in 1973 was giving away large tracts of our fishing rights in Irish territorial waters. We are allocated only 20pc of the total catch in Irish waters. I will come back to that decision later, but before I do that, let’s just examine the massive opportunity that exists in fishing – even if our dismal quota remains the same.
Fisheries are among the most underdeveloped of all Ireland’s natural industries, yet without doubt they have the highest growth potential.
In fact, a changed attitude to fishing could transform the economy of the entire western seaboard and, by transforming the economy of the western seaboard, fishing and fish processing could change the economic, demographic and cultural landscape of the entire country.
The Atlantic Ocean is our most valuable resource.
Fish is the future and fish processing, adding value to the catch of the sea, could be the industry of the next 100 years. Ireland could become the European hub for fish processing.
We could land the Atlantic’s fish in Ireland, process it in the west and fly it out to the rest of Europe.
At the moment, Spanish, Scottish, French and Norwegian trawlers make the expensive and time-consuming return journey from the fishing beds of the West coast, catching their load and shipping it back to La Coruna, Le Rochelle or Oslo rather than landing it in Kerry, Galway or Donegal where it could be processed. This is a massive opportunity.
Currently, 1.2 million tonnes of fish are caught in Irish waters per year. This is the EU’s annual cap on the amount of fish that can be caught in the entirety of Ireland’s territorial waters. Therefore, only 20pc, or 250,000 tonnes, of Irish fish is landed in Ireland. The rest goes abroad.
Of this 250,000 tonnes, only 50,000 tonnes are actually processed in Ireland. Processing is where the value is added. Exporting frozen fish gives someone else the value. It is the equivalent of giving the stuff away for someone else to make money from it.
Therefore, 200,000 tonnes of Irish fish are exported with absolutely no value added. This is a waste. It is the maritime equivalent of exporting live beef from Ireland, which was the staple of Irish agriculture in the 1950s, 60s and 70s – when we were poor.
So rather than being a sophisticated industry, Irish fisheries is still a commodity business, characterised by low levels of investment; it doesn’t have to be like that.
Irish agriculture was like this in the 1970s but now we have large food companies, using the most modern technology, exporting expensive processed food all around the globe.
Irish fisheries could be the same.
In the next 15 years, the global demand for fish is expected to surge as three billion new consumers, particularly in Asia, who have always preferred fish to meat, begin to spend on higher-protein sources of food.
The World Health Organisation estimates that the world will need 32 million extra tonnes of fish per year by 2030. It also estimates that the price of fish and sea food will rise by 25pc by 2020 – that’s only five years away.
China alone could eat the entire Irish annual catch, 250,000 tonnes, in three days and it’s not just foreigners who want more fish. In Ireland, fish consumption is set to rise as more and more people understand how healthy it is. The capacity for this is significant when you think that right now, Irish people only eat 21kgs of seafood per year. Compare this with 70kgs for Japanese, 34kgs for French and 33kgs for Chinese.
If Ireland can exploit the true potential of our territorial waters, this country can transform its western seaboard into the fish-processing hub of the whole of Europe.
Rather than make the long journey back to Galicia, Spanish trawlers would land their catch in Dingle or Castletownbere, where it could be processed and flown out via Cork overnight to Spain.
Similarly, Kilkeel could be such a port in Clare, using Shannon to transport the fish, and Killybegs using either Donegal or Knock airports to be in France, Spain or indeed London the next day.
At the moment, the Irish industry is only processing 5pc of total catch in Irish waters. This is a travesty and is a function of the very poor deal negotiated in 1972 and the failure of the industry here to invest in scale.
Whether we like it or not, scale is the key to expanding the business because only with scale can we get the investment necessary to compete.
At the moment, few Irish companies in the fish business have turnovers of more than €1m. Contrast this with Norway, where one company, Marine Harvest, is valued at over €3bn.
Finally, there is the EU and our dreadful deal we negotiated. The general feeling is that Irish fishermen were sacrificed for Irish farmers – what the EU gave to the farmers it took away from the fishermen.
This shouldn’t surprise anyone, but what is unforgivable is that successive Irish governments haven’t sought to renegotiate as the evidence of the enormous riches of the Atlantic becomes ever more apparent.
What’s wrong with us?
But now we have a European opportunity, given to us by the Eurosceptic British.
In the coming months, Britain will seek to renegotiate much of its relationship with the EU. Why not take advantage of this state of flux by revisiting the giveaway that was signed by Irish negotiators over 40 years ago?
But in order to be capable of taking advantage of any fishing bonanza, we have to be ready. Now is the time to invest in the real wealth of the country, which lies just off our coast.
Hi There,
While I totally agree with the sentiment – I am afraid that the days of endless hauls are long over. Irish Fishing (largely due) to foreign trawlers literally raking the seabed is like most fisheries in massive decline – as documented in great detail by Callum Roberts in his book “The unnatural History of the Sea”.
However as a model for stewardship and renewal (as well as the re-establishment of a viable ecosystem) nationalisation is surely the preferred option.
Regards.
Might be a silly question but Why does Adam always post “Subscribe” and will he be heartbroken that he missed the first post?
Another silly question maybe? Is there a way to get email alerts of the discussion without posting and wasting the valuable seconds some people might waste reading this?
Thanks :-)
The political parties who have dominated Ireland in recent decades (FF/FG/LP) are following the votes. There were more farmers than fishermen. They signed up for the deal that ultimately benefited them, and the overlayered institutional state that they have created. In other words, we see gombeenism at work. It really is that cheap. What is shocking is not the way they operated. This has become standard operating procedure for political cadres in the EEC/EC/EU at various stages. What is shocking is that they had zero value on what they ignored. In other words, it is astounding that they never grasped… Read more »
Certainly, the deal done in 1972 was a terrible one for the fishing industry. But I wonder if the opportunities are as large as you imply. exporting unprocessed fish may be inevitable if that’s the way shops and restaurants want it. Do we know what proportion of fish exported is subsequently processed in some way?
And then there is the problem with supply, which is limited.
To renegotiate a better deal with the EU would provide an improved outlook for the industry but how realistic is that? Our partners will not wish to open that issue any time soon.
One of the most insightful things that you can do with respect to Atlantic Ireland’s coast is travel in the middle of the week in the evening. It is frightening now many of the nice houses that you see are empty. Entire estates with maybe one house warm and lit. Modern houses too. Here we see once again, Irish banking, income disposal patterns, and capital misallocation in action. And of course, suburban social mores with respect to real estate, and the arms race in self-importance. This is the result of decades of building. loaning, and unsustainable wage increases from various… Read more »
Deal or no deal, we would have been pillaged over the years by other EU nations, take the Spanish who brazenly exceeded their quotas with little or no trouble in our waters, but David is right to say that we have been blind when it came to fisheries, but if four fifths of our catch is exported, this must mean that others can do it better and cheaper than we can. Is it too late to make amends?
Really good article, David, in which you tell the truth of the situation of the Irish fishing industry on a whole. After reading the comments so far I have to say that I agree with everything that was said, but the only way that you are going to get any sort of a change for the better is to stop voting for the mainstream parties and that we vote for the people who will actually do the job of running this country of ours properly. We’re due to have a general election early next year and as it’s also the… Read more »
Hi, “What’s wrong with us?” Have you not figured it out by now? Ireland has indeed an unbelievable fishing resource. We also have some of the most productive farming land in the world. We produce the best beef in the world and the best racehorses. We also have many other resources literary cultural etc. Now David despite all of this the largest ever outflow of people from Ireland since the foundation of the state was 89400 in the 12 months to 2013. 80400 left in the 12 months to 2014. All of these outbound individuals despite the magnificent resources available… Read more »
Question of importance (sic). Over the past few decades, what has been the social status/standing of a fisherman compared to the social status of I) solicitors II) bank mangers III) Journalists IV) people working in institutional state quangoes (thanks to being in a political party, or being with the “right” people). V) The men’s captain at the local golf club VI) the man who owns five plus residential properties and who is no longer doing any productive [ in some cases he never did]. ? I think we think immaterial stuff far too seriously, and people of questionable ability far… Read more »
Deco You’re points are well made. And these points have been made at length on this forum on many occasions. If you read the contributions above we attack all the usual suspects we see locally who have signs of visible if relatively minor wealth. Meanwhile the invisible wealth of the Marine, Agricultural and Oil & Gas and Mineral resources of this State is being hoovered up through the lobbyists in Brussels who have a single point of access and control to our political “elite”. We don’t need to re-invent the wheel on Marine resources just copy Norway and Iceland. The… Read more »
Good article David. People and communities who are part of Ireland’s sea-fishing industry and seafaring culture will recognise what you are saying. May we be so bold as to offer your readers a free copy of the book, A Woeful Tale by Derrick Cranpole? It is a collection of poetry and illustrations that charts the high and lows of Ireland’s sea-fishermen, their battles with the elements and bureaucracy, at sea and on land. Go to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/247002 and claim your free copy on Smashwords when your enter the promo code RU42V at checkout. This is a free and genuine offer, exclusive… Read more »
Three years back I took a trip up the north west coast. Spending a few hours in and around Killybegs i was told the local boats fish only a few days ayear because of the quota system. Also that Spanish boats pulled in, loaded directly to Spanish trucks which immediately left for foreign parts.
Fish pulled from Irish waters never even hit land in Ireland.
Fresh negotiations will not work. A sovereign Ireland needs to take back that which was given away. The country does not have the balls of Iceland needed to do so.
Fishing is hunting. Sustainable food comes from farming not hunting.
Fishing represents very stupid hunting – all the discards die, while only the bureaucratically acceptable fish are landed.
As fish become more scarce, we build bigger boats !!
All about the money, money, money, eh !
I agree with David’s points’ about doing the added-value work here, rather than exporting the raw material, but where does that fit in the “globalized” playbook.
Fish are doomed. Enjoy them while you can.
p.s. we are doomed too.
What is good for the chinese citizen should be good for you too. “”Economic person of the year 2011 in China, Sun Zhaoxue, who was also the President of the China Gold Association and General Manager of the China National Gold Group Corporation, wrote in August 2012: Individual investment demand is an important component of China’s gold reserve system, we should encourage individual investment demand for gold. Practice shows that gold possession by citizens is an effective supplement to national reserves and is very important to national financial security. Sun makes a clear distinction between consumer purchases (SGE flows) and… Read more »
“”Allowing these institutions to continue business as usual, after multiple and serious regulatory and criminal violations, poses risks to investors and the American public that are being ignored. It is not sufficient to look at each waiver request in a vacuum.”” Commissioner Kara M. Stein, US, SEC http://www.lemetropolecafe.com/img2015/Midas/0522/DissentingStatement.pdf Banks are criminal enterprises and are given a free pass by the regulators, until this dissenting opinion. Here they openly conspired to rig the currency and exchange markets and the libor overnight lending rates. The same with all markets where the banks act as surrogates for government. The manipulate the Currency and… Read more »
Lemetropolecafe
‘Titanic’ Global Economy May “Collapse” Warn HSBC
– Gold Is Lifeboat
“World economy is like an ocean liner without lifeboats” – HSBC
– Four areas of high risk identified by HSBC
– Risk of stock market crash
– Pension funds and insurers may not meet obligations
– Chinese recession may drag U.S. into recession or depression
– Premature rate rise would expose very fragile global economy
– “There aren’t enough lifeboats to go round”
– HSBC positive on gold due to risks
– Gold vital lifeboat when global ship strikes iceberg
**
It was a terrible article David, dreadful – bandwagonesque – as the Polish dude verson of Mr bonbon said – dreadful. 1st three albums of U2 was good up to 1985 – after that it went crap to supermarket music – eh hello that was 30 years ago when they stopped being good. I am your worst nightmare, it’s all going to fall apart so be prepared to take orders from me – you know it makes sense. I’m a good person but I’m a leader – not a follower, I know you will all be better following me –… Read more »
More government fraud in CPI reporting.
http://investmentresearchdynamics.com/the-government-fraudulently-reported-april-inflation-numbers/
“” But a further dissection of the numbers shows that the BLS has the price of gasoline falling 1.7% during April.
This is either a politically motivated act of fraud or complete incompetence on the part of the Government statisticians and data gatherers (the Census Bureau).
In fact, the price of gasoline rose over 12% during April – the fastest monthly rise in history:””—-Dave Kransler
http://usawatchdog.com/author/greg-hunter/
WNW 191-Criminal Financial System, Gold Fraud, Middle East on Fire, China Warns US Again
Tony Brogan
I’m just reading flash boys at the moment and these people need serious jail time not meaningless fines. What level of fines can possibly deter people who have no problem stealing billions more to pay the fines? How do you take them out of the system Tony or reboot the system without serious pain for a lot of people?
DB
Tony Brogan I think an orderly move in that direction has merit Tony. The Irish people just told the State and Church to go f**k themselves in relation to issues of personal morality. The State colluded with the church for almost a century pretending to have moral authority. It spent much of that century covering up the rape and murders of our most vulnerable Citizens. I hope our Citizens now educate themselves on the financial rape of the Citizens of this State by those who profess to hold financial authority. These people need to be removed from power from the… Read more »
A Uasail DB4545 a chara
I note your concerns in relation to the institution in Castlepollard.
I will endeavour to look into the situation and revert to you in due course.
Is mise le meas
Coldblow Ó Coldblow
Rúnaí Príobháideach
Coldblow
Official Ireland will never be dead as long as they keep sending those letters.Jesus H.Christ Coldblow it’s striking how similar they sound to something from Pravda and for good reason. One of my concerns is that the little sisters of perpeptual indulgence apparently hired a very prominent blonde PR consultant to deal with press enquiries. GUBU. Perhaps not unprecedented. I wonder if the Nazis had hired PR people would the Nurenburg trials have faded into obscurity?
DB