Cork Coasts: CEOs in ‘united front’ demand policy change

FIVE CEOs of seafood producing and processing organisations have joined forces to demand change at national and EU level, and are calling for the Government and MEPs to engage with them.

The organisations are the Irish South & West Fish Producers Organisation, the South & East Fish Producers Organisation, the Irish Fish Producers Organisation, the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association, and the Killybegs Fisherman’s Organisation.

They say they have “committed to work closely together in a more formalised relationship”, and aim to enhance their “collective effectiveness as sectoral representatives by presenting a united front”.

The CEOs include Patrick Murphy from Ballydehob, West Cork, who is the chief executive at the Irish South & West Fish Producers Organisation.

Mr Murphy says the move to unite efforts and initiatives is long overdue. He said: “Collectively, we have a broad set of shared experiences and capacities.

“We have been very adversely hit by external factors, such as Brexit and the reduction in quotas, in recent years.

“Improved, effective engagement with the minister and the EU at policy level is a starting point in our aligned workplan.”

In a joint statement issued by all five CEOs, John Lynch — the CEO of the South & East Fish Producers Organisation — said he was confident that they had a shared view of the essentials, adding “positive change can be achieved if we put our shoulder to the wheel as an aligned group”.

The CEO of the Irish Fish Producers Organisation, Aodh O’Donnell, said: “The work plan we agreed prioritises the re-establishing of an effective liaison process with the marine minister and his department officials,” he said.

The CEO of the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association, Brendan Byrne, explained that a key outcome of their discussions is a consensus agreement on the challenges fish producers face post Brexit and the need to radically reform the Common Fisheries Policy.

The CEO of the Killybegs Fisherman’s Organisation, Dominic Rihan, said that the systematic engagement will help to drive and deliver positive change, “but is reliant on proactive engagement at national and EU level”.