McGuinness puts case for investment in Lough Neagh Eel stocks
Sinn Féin Mid Ulster MP Martin McGuinness has met David Hanson, the British
direct
rule Minster responsible for inland fishing, to put the case for
direct
aid to support the sustainable development of Elver Eel stocks in
Lough
Neagh. Speaking after the meeting Mr McGuinness said:
"Lough
Neagh is a natural habitat for the Elver Eel. Maintaining sustainable
stock
levels is vital to providing for the long-term future of eel fishing
on
Lough Neagh.
"The Lough Neagh Fisherman's Co-operative has played
a vital role is
sustaining current stocks in purchasing over 74
million Elver eels since
1985 at a cost of over £1.5 million to restock
the Lough. However, the
reality is that it is generally accepted that
the minimum annual recruitment
of Elver into Lough Neagh should be 8
million in order to protect the
indigenous local industry.
"The
continued purchase of an adequate quantity of Elvers each year is
essential
to ensure the continued viability of the industry. Without direct
aid
it will be hard to sustain the required level of recruitment of wild eel
into
Lough Neagh.
"Sinn Fein has highlighted the imbalance of
investment in economic
development and assistance, particularly outside
of Belfast and West of the
Bann, by Invest NI. Providing grant aid to
stock Lough Neagh would be just
one way for direct rule ministers to
provide evidence that the accept that
the anti-West of the Bann and
pro-Belfast, pro-East Coast bias is damaging
to important economic
sectors here.
"Across Europe the growth in eel farming has meant
that there is now a major
decline in the natural recruitment of wild
eels into the European water
systems and has resulted in most European
eel fisheries being in terminal
decline.
"The management of
both brown and silver eel stocks is of the highest
standard, far
exceeding EU recommendations in many areas.
"Lough Neagh is now
the major commercial wild ell fishery in Europe. Its
status is
protected and production levels maintained through sustained local
investment.
However, the concern is that failure to provide assistance would
undermine
the local industry that would lead to lower stocking levels and a
vicious
circle that would see both the decline in this economically
important
local industry and to the Elver population in Lough Neagh.
"The
government needs to give a firm commitment to support eel fishing on
Lough
Neagh. It plays a vital role in the life of people living along the
banks
of the Lough and is sustaining the local economy. The loss of the wild
eel
fishing industry from Lough Neagh would have both serious consequences
for
some of the most deprived areas in the North and for one of our natural
resources,
the wild eel.
"Every year hundreds of tons of Elvers are exported
from Europe to the Far
East yet this will cause long-term damage to the
native European wild eel
fisheries unless action is taken. There are
very serious concerns that the
course of action under consideration by
the EU will destroy the industry
rather than ensure its long-term
sustainability." ENDS