Killybegs fishermen say they received ‘not one single cent’ of Brexit fund

Fishermen in Killybegs say they have been waiting 30 months for access to Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) funding. 

Furthermore, they believe that if the money is not distributed this year, it will be returned to Europe and permanently lost to the fishing community in Killybegs. 

The Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO) response follows the publication of the Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) Business of Seafood report this week. The report named Killybegs as Ireland’s most lucrative fishing port, with landings worth €135 million.

In launching the report, Minister For Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue said the global pandemic, Brexit and the war in Ukraine had brought economic shocks and challenges. These had in turn created a difficult trading environment. 

“I recognise the pressure those working in the industry have faced in the last year, and that is why I have delivered significant funding under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve to assist the sector,” said the Minister. 

However, the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO) says its members are still waiting  for access to approved Brexit funding

Chief Executive, Seán O’Donoghue said: “The ongoing, inordinate delay in providing compensation to fishermen impacted by Brexit is an absolute scandal which must be rectified forthwith.”

Mr O’Donoghue said the report from state seafood development agency, Bord Iascaigh Mhara underlines the seismic challenge faced by his members with Dublin Bay Prawns now surpassing mackerel as the most valuable wild species for the industry. The report also states that the volume of exports fell by 13% to 293,000 tonnes due mainly to the lower quotas of mackerel and blue whiting as a result of Brexit.

The Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) was put in place to provide financial support to pelagic fishermen which is the sector most impacted from the Brexit fallout. However, not one single cent has been distributed to date.

“It beggars belief that a tranche of money which will provide so much relief to our members is not being disseminated,” said Mr O’Donoghue. 

“We lag behind our EU counterparts and what’s of most concern to us is that if we don’t distribute this funding by year end, it’ll be returned to Europe and permanently lost to our fishermen. This is potentially an appalling vista and we’re calling for the most urgent of political action by Minister McConalogue on this matter.

“In 2022 alone, we have had more than 12,000 tonnes of mackerel valued at approximately €18 million taken from our quota as a direct result of Brexit. No business can nor could be expected to sustain losses on this scale.”

The KFO says that from 2021 to the end of 2023, pelagic fishermen will have had more than 37,000 tonnes of their mackerel quota stripped away because of Brexit. This will result in losses of more than €52 million and will have a devastating effect on employment.

The BIM report has cited an increase in value of fish landings in Ireland in 2022.

The reopening of the hospitality sector was a significant driving factor in increasing domestic consumption of seafood. Higher prices on the domestic and export markets have contributed to the increased value of catches.