A new campaign to highlight issues affecting the fishing industry in the run-up to the local and European elections has been initiated in Donegal.
The #Fight4Fishing pre-election campaign was launched at a “hustings” in Killybegs to hear the views of Midlands/North-West European election candidates.
Over 200 people attended the meeting hosted by the Irish Fish Producers Organisation (IFPO), the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO) and the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association (IFPEA).
Over 200 people attended the #Fight4Fishing pre-election campaign
IFPO chief executive Aodh O Donnell said ten candidates took part and attendees came from all segments of the industry – the catching, processing and services sectors.
Event organisers Connell Kennedy and Trish Hegarty of Inis Communications with the three CEO hosts of the #Fight4Fishing pre-election campaign, IFPEA chief executive Brendan Byrne, KFO chief executive Dominic Rihan and IFPO chief executive Aodh O Donnell
He described the meeting as a “major milestone in putting fishing on the Irish political agenda”.
IFPEA chief executive Brendan Byrne told the meeting that fishing was in crisis due to Government inaction and lack of fair distribution of EU quotas.
14-year-old Muireann Kavanagh of Arranmore Island asks when she can fish pollock again at the #Fight4Fishing pre-election campaign launch
Byrne said Ireland’s interests needed to be better represented at European level.
KFO chief executive Dominic Rihan said the organisations were delighted with both the turnout and the contribution that the local fishing community made to the debate.
Rihan urged people to support the #Fight4Fishing campaign on social media and to ask canvassers questions about fishing on the doorsteps.
More details on the campaign are here