IFPEA Demands Urgent Government Action Over Crisis

IFPEA CEO Brendan Byrne demands urgent Government action before Killybegs meeting with Minister Timmy Dooley over ICES advice

Action, Not Promises, Needed to Save Ireland’s Pelagic Processing Sector

Ireland’s pelagic processing industry has called for immediate Government action ahead of tomorrow’s meeting with Fisheries and Maritime Minister Timmy Dooley in Killybegs, warning that “the fluff and flannel days are over.”

Brendan Byrne, CEO of the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association (IFPEA), said the sector is now facing an unprecedented crisis following the draft scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), which recommends drastic quota cuts to key pelagic species including mackerel, blue whiting and boarfish.

After five difficult years navigating the post-Brexit landscape, compounded by successive negative scientific assessments and the loss of foreign landings in 2023, Byrne warned that the viability of the entire processing sector is now on the line.

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“Our industry is in need of an immediate Government response and support,” said Byrne. “Time is no longer a commodity we have in abundance, and time needs to be utilised to benefit the sector.”

He added: “We are increasingly frustrated with the level of fluff and flannel we are getting constantly from our state agencies, our parent Department and everyone else in between. The new Programme for Government identifies the real potential of the national fishing and processing sector, but now we need to see tangible delivery and real action. It does not take a genius to make the projections for the ICES advice impacts.”

The Irish pelagic sector employs thousands across coastal communities and underpins significant export earnings for the seafood industry. The latest ICES advice has warned of reductions of up to 70% in mackerel and 41% in blue whiting — a blow Byrne described as “existential.”

Despite this, he commended Minister Dooley for his rapid response. “We commend Minister Timmy Dooley for taking the immediate decision to come to Killybegs within five days of the ICES advice being published,” said Byrne.

He concluded: “Let tomorrow be the beginning of a positive and proactive action strategy and plan for our processing sector.”

Source: Press Release

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