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SPANISH FLEET GIVEN GREEN LIGHT OVER 'IRISH BOX'
Tuesday 14th October 2003
The Spanish fishing fleet will be given unfettered access to some of Europe's most sensitive fishing grounds under a deal agreed last night. European Fisheries Ministers agreed to open almost 10,000 square miles of waters off the Irish coast, which had until now been deemed to environmentally sensitive.
The deal to allow access to a quarter of the restricted area was brokered last night, despite opposition from Ireland, Britain, France and Portugal. The 'Irish Box', a 50 mile exclusion zone around the Irish coast, has traditionally been seen as one of the most important spawning and nursery grounds in EU waters. The current limits on fishing rights were designed to protect the fish stocks.
Timothy Kirkhope, MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, said:
"This decision is totally hypocritical. The European Commission is telling everyone that whitefish stocks are perilously low, and have demanded quota cuts and reductions in time at sea for British fishermen. Yet they are now opening important areas to further fishing, allowing the Spanish industrial fleet to 'hoover up' what is left of our fish stocks in some of Europe's most sensitive spawning grounds.
The Irish box is one of the most valuable fishing conservation areas in the world. This is the first step on a slippery slope. Next the Spanish fleet will want access to what is left. If they get their way so easily in the Irish Box, then the Shetland Box and other waters around Britain will surely be next.
Yesterday's decision might be good news for Spanish fishermen, but it is bad news for our fishermen and our fish stocks."
