Speaking after the meeting of the Tri - Council Fisheries Group with the Minister for Fisheries the MP for South Down said;

“It is clear that the soon to be implemented European Fisheries Fund must deliver immediate funding to the industry and management plans that will assist its future development. I am concerned that under the European Fund some of the measures will require significant investment from the boat and business owners and that in this current very difficult financial climate fishermen and businesses will be unable to met the investment require of them to avail of modernisation schemes. I would hope that the Minister will be responsive to this situation and introduce measures that reflect the current economic climate and offer help not a financial burden to the fishermen

Other issues discussed during the meeting were the dreaded annual fisheries negotiation in Brussels and how year on year they place unrealistic burdens on our fishing industry. It is vital that a stronger negotiating stance is achieved by the Northern Ireland Department and I would urge that Department to use the current review of the Common Fisheries Policy to achieve a stronger bargaining position within Europe. The issue of Regional Devolution of Fisheries responsibility is vital to Northern Ireland if we are to have strong and unimpeded representations in Brussels. It is my understanding however that the Department of Agriculture has opted to stay within the UK for the purposes of Brussels negotiations and I am concerned that, as this has been detrimental to the local fishing industry in the past it may well be detrimental to the industry in the future

As we approach decisions on how the new European Fisheries Fund will be delivered it is crucial that the Department focus on the extraordinary economic and social impact that the European quota and days at sea cuts combined with the global financial crisis have had on the fishing industry, and they must look at delivering packages that are responsive to these immediate needs and that deliver a long-term future for the industry.