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The Irish South and West Fish Producers’ Organisation (IS&WFPO) has set up a “Show and Tell” protest tomorrow at 7am, which will involve fishing vessels travelling along the river Lee to Cork city. The campaign group wants the public to “come and view these vessels, meet the men and women who work these vessels, hear their stories and talk with our representatives”. They will also then send an angry letter to Taoiseach Micheal Martin’s constituency office in Turner’s Cross, Cork, about how the Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement between EU and UK was “unfair and unjust” for Irish fishermen.
The IS&WFPO said: “Fishermen were asked to put aside their fears of being hundreds of miles away from medical help if it were needed for the benefit of our people.”
The campaign group said on their website they want a renegotiation of the Common Fisheries Policy so that Ireland is given a fair share of fish quotas that reflect the contribution of our fishing grounds to the EU.
They also say the TCA Agreement between EU and UK penalised Ireland’s fishing industry and so there needs to be an equal burden throughout the Member States.
The group also said that during the protest, they will highlight the impact of the loss of 15 per cent overall quota in the Brexit deal, as well as the reintroduction of an administrative penalty points system.
They are also angry about the recent withdrawal of the EU control plan, as this will mean all catches of fish will have to be weighed on piers.
Their website called for: “Renegotiation of Common Fisheries Policy so that Ireland is allocated a fair share of fish quotas that reflect the contribution of our fishing grounds to the EU.
“The Brexit TCA Agreement between EU and UK was both unfair and unjust and penalised Ireland’s fishing industry. This must be equal Burden Sharing throughout the member States.
The IS&WFPO added in a statement: “The countless job losses, financial worries these people have of maintaining mortgage payments and putting food on their tables is unimaginable.
“The vast majority of our members share these worries, but not because they cannot trade or continue the profession that was passed down to them from their fathers and mothers- but because their rights have been stripped away and they now find themselves the pawn on the chessboard of Europe to be sacrificed so larger countries may triumph.”
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