The Federation of Irish Fishermen is calling for its members to be invited to give their opinions on enhanced environmental strategies rather than being hit with a populist blanket ban on discards.
Chairperson Sean O’Donoghue, also head of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation, was reacting to EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki’s recent blanket ban on discards.
This means, in simple terms, that fishermen who inadvertently catch species outside of their quota must land all the fish, with the unwanted fish cancelling out the allowable catch.
Sean O’Donoghue says this does not make sense and says the situation must be reviewed:
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