Independent TD for South-West Cork Michael Collins has described the latest Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) data relating to the Department of Agriculture’s ‘Voluntary Decommissioning Scheme’ as an alarm bell sounding the death knell of the Castletownbere fishing fleet.
Deputy Collins was speaking after BIM confirmed that that there are now 42 fishing boats to be scrapped; a more than 100% increase on the 20 boats that were part of the Scheme last month.
It is being reported that the single largest number of applications to decommission came from fishermen operating in the west Cork town of Castletownbere.
It is also understood however that this data relates to a total of 57 letters of offer that were issued to 64 fishing boat owners who initially applied to the Scheme when it opened in 2022:
“What is unfolding right before our eyes is the death spiral of the west Cork fishing sector and indeed the Irish fishing sector in general,” said Deputy Collins.
“This is a direct result, and the end point of years of political neglect and an utter failure to prioritise and properly incentivise the sector.”
“To add insult to injury it is very likely that fishermen and fisherwomen who participate in the absurdly named ‘voluntary’ scheme will not be able to recoup the full value of their boats.”
“What is happening here is Government imposed cruelty born of ineptitude and appalling levels of departmental lethargy around supports like the fuel subsidy which our fishermen have been crying out for.”
“As a result, and the data from BIM now reflects this, fishermen are voting with their feet and are leaving their heritage and their livelihoods behind. It is a shameful indictment of Government policy,” Deputy Collins concluded.