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KFO Press Releases

250 JOBS TO BE CREATED IN THE KILYBEGS REGION OVER NEXT THREE YEARS

Report of the high level group – Jobs Initiative

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KFO Highly Critical Of EU Commission’s Proposals On Fleet Safety And Blue Whiting. (26th November 2001).

Positive Response By KFO To New Whitefish Fleet Development Measure. (15th June 2001)

KFO Welcomes Minister Fahey’s Announcement On Supporting Measures For Sea Fisheries Development. (1st May 2001)

KFO Welcomes The Outcome Of Norwegian Negotiations With The EU.(1st December 2000)

Sympathy To Fellow Fishermen (3rd October 2000).

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KFO Highly Critical Of EU Commission’s Proposals On Fleet Safety And Blue Whiting
26th November 2001

The Council of Fisheries Ministers is due to discuss tomorrow Tuesday 27th November a proposal from the EU Commission, which amends the five-year fleet programmes for all member states. This amendment should have been straight forward requiring a rollover of the existing fleet programmes for 1 year (2002) to avoid these pre-empting the outcome of the review of the Common Fisheries Policy due on the 1st January 2003. However the EC Commission’s proposal is intent on deleting a major fishing vessel safety element from the existing arrangements. The affect of the Commission’s proposal if approved by the Council is to penalise fishing vessel owners greater than 12 metres in length for incorporating structural safety features on their vessels such as shelter decks.

The Chief Executive of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organistation Sean O’Donoghue said “I am amazed that the Commission could propose penalising fishing vessel owners for incorporating safety features on their vessels to give their crews a safer working environment at sea. Safety at sea is of paramount importance to the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organistation as it should be to the EU Commission and I am requesting and expect Minister Fahey to get this proposal thrown out tomorrow at the Fisheries Council”.

A separate item for discussion at the Fisheries Council is the allocation of Blue Whiting between the EU and other Coastal States i.e. Norway, Faroe Islands, Iceland and Russia. Several meetings have taken place to try and resolve this issue to no avail with the EU the only party that has put fishing constraints on its pelagic fishermen. Whereas the EU has imposed constraints on its fishermen over the last number of years the other Coastal States (Norway, Faroe Islands, Iceland and Russia) have increased their catches by almost one million tonnes. The EU Commission now has a proposal on the table which instead of trying to curtail the excessive catches of over the last number of years by Norway, Faroe Islands, Iceland and Russia will mean if approved significantly lower catches for Community fishermen. The Chief Executive of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organistation said “the EU Commission’s proposal for resolving the Blue Whiting allocation is totally unacceptable to EU pelagic fishermen and is only a blue print for rewarding those Costal States who blatantly increased their catches by one million tonnes a year thus jeopardising the sustainability of the Blue Whiting stock. He added the first stage in any Blue Whiting proposal has to be to significantly reduce catches of those Coastal States who have acted irresponsibility by enormously increasing their catches without any regard for the sustainability of the Blue Whiting stocks.”

For further information contact KFO Tel: 073-31089 or 31305 Fax: 31577

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Positive Response By KFO To New Whitefish Fleet Development Measure
15th June 2001

The new Irish Whitefish Fleet Development Measure, announced in Waterford today (15th June 2001) by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Mr. Frank Fahey, T.D. has been warmly welcomed by the Killygegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO) which expressed the hope that improved safety and working conditions will lead to more young people choosing fishing as a career. Under the scheme, the State and EU are providing IR£20 million (25.4 million euros) in grans to support a total investment by the sector of up to IR£75 million (96 million euros).

Mr Sean O’Donoghue, Chief Executive of the KFO said, “Taken in conjunction with the very successful Fleet Renewal Programme of 1998 and the more recent announcement of Supporting Measures for Sea Fisheries Development, this Fleet Development Measure amounts to a major strategy for a sustainable future for the whole whitefish sector. Its provisions will raise efficiency, reduce the age profile of the fleet and significantly improve the quality of landings, thereby maximising prices. And while we welcome the IR£20 million being made available by the Irish Government and the EU, it should be noted that well in excess of three times that amount will come from the industry itself to make this scheme work.”

Many members in the KFO have been waiting for this Measure to be announced. The organisation sees it as a carefully-crafted plan to ensure that these new vessels are economically viable and will not add to the difficulties already facing some whitefish stocks; by-and-large, they will be targeting under-exploited and non-quota species.

Under the Measure, there will be assistance for the purchase of new and second-hand vessels, for improvements in safety standards on board, and for mondernisation of existing vessels. An additional aspect of the plan is the provision of assistance for young fishermen to buy their first vessel.

Mr O’Donoghue said, “The provision of assistance for young skippers to buy vessels is a major step and I am confident that it will give a significant boost to young qualified skippers to own their vessel. The Measure should also help to resolve difficulties which have been experienced finding suitable crews for whitefish boats. In particular, the improvements in safety and working conditions should be an encouragement for young people to consider fishing as a career.”

The KFO congratulated the Minister and his Department on the announcement of this Measure. Recalling that a key role in the delivery of the previous 1998 Whitefish Fleet Renewal Programme had been played by BIM, the organisation said they were delighted that BIM would be administering this new Measure also, and believed it would deliver in the same fashion.

In conclusion, Mr O’Donoghue said, “I have every confidence that the full package of supports now available will play a major role in the recovery of the inshore and whitefish fisheries and contribute towards sustainable development of the whole Irish fishing industry.”

For further information contact KFO Tel: 073-31089 or 31305 Fax: 31577

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KFO Welcomes Minister Fahey’s Announcement On Supporting Measures For Sea Fisheries Development
1st May 2001

At the launch of the supporting measures for Sea Fisheries Development by Minister Fahey in Galway on Monday 30th April, the Chief Executive of the KFO, Sean O’Donoghue said “I am pleased that the Minister is announcing that a new total investment of £30 million for the supporting measures in the Sea Fisheries Sector, has also given a firm commitment to announce shortly the Fishing Fleet Development Measures.” The KFO believes the success of the supporting measures announced will be dependent on running the Fishing Fleet Development Measures in conjunction with the supporting measures.

The KFO is committed to sustainable fishing and consider that the programmes announced in the supporting measures will help in achieving this and in maximising the return from Ireland’s fisheries resources. In commenting on the eight programmes announced, the Chief Executive of the KFO said “the programmes on E-Trade, Producer Organisations, Quality Certification, Sustainable Fisheries Management and Technical Conservation Measures were of particular interest to the KFO and its members, and I envisage working cloesly with BIM in trying to avail of some of these programmes.”

The KFO is looking forward to a second announcement from the Minister shortly on the Fleet Development Measures, which will provide very significant financial support over the next six years for the sea fisheries sector. The Operational Programme published last year envisaged EU and State support of £45 million over the period 2000-2006.

For further information contact KFO Tel: 073-31089 or 31305 Fax: 31577

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KFO Welcomes The Outcome Of Norwegian Negotiations With The EU
1st December 2000

The Chief Executive of the KFO Sean O’Donoghue has welcomed the outcome of the Norwegian negotiations. Speaking at the end of a marathon 29 hours of negotiations in Brussels he said ” a good deal had been obtained for Ireland by the Minister of Marine Frank Fahey and his officials which will provide extra fishing opportunities in 2001 for Irish fishermen in Mackerel, Blue Whiting, Saithe and Deepwater species”.

The agreement which was signed will increase the Mackerel quota to Ireland by almost 2000 tonnes to 72000 tonnes in 2001 and reduces the quantities of Blue Whiting given to Norway as part of a fish swap of 31360 tonnes. This reduction will mean an extra 5000 tonnes of Blue Whiting to Ireland in 2001. A welcome and justified 2000 tonnes in the total allowable catch (TAC) of Saithe in waters off the North West of Ireland (Area IV) was also agreed. Other items agreed of relevance to Ireland were a 2000 tonnes reduction in Deepwater species off the Irish coast given to Norway, no increase in the Norwegian share of the Mackerel stock and the endorsement of Russian catches of Mackerel in the North East Atlantic at significantly lower levels than in recent years as agreed at the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission NEAFC.

Finally the KFO wish to recognise the excellent work done by the Minister of the Marine and his officials in reaching this good deal which will provide extra fishing opportunities in 2001.

For further information contact KFO Tel: 073-31089 or 31305 Fax: 31577

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Sympathy To Fellow Fishermen
3rd October 2000

At a meeting of the Directors of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation held today, Tuesday 3rd October, a vote of sympathy was passed to the families, relatives and friends of the Spanish / French and Irishman who have lost their lives in recent days. Sean O’Donoghue, CEO of the KFO said it was unfortunate tragedies like this that unite all fishing communities in grief at the loss of fellow fishermen and on behalf of all KFO members we extend our deepest sympathy.

For further information contact KFO Tel: 073-31089 or 31305 Fax: 31577

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