Fine Gael National Press Office Press Release
Overseas anglers spend more per head than other visitors
EU proposals to impose catching quotas on pleasure angling will have zero impact on sustainability but are a direct attack on the Irish Angling Tourism Industry that is worth a bare minimum of €66 million according to Fine Gael Tourism Spokesperson, Olivia Mitchell TD.
"It’s hard to see why the EU Commission is focusing on this when there are issues within the EU in need of greater attention.
"Expenditure by overseas anglers in Ireland is estimated at €66 million per year with the average spend per angler well above that of general visitors. Imposing these quotas will do nothing to maintain fish stocks but will negatively impact this vital tourism sector.
"The fish take from sea anglers must be so miniscule as to have zero impact on sustainability of fish stocks. Why attack it?
"These ridiculous proposals have come out of nowhere. In terms of practicality, it makes no sense as how could these quotas possibly be policed? The only impact will be to increase bureaucracy and set commercial fishermen against their neighbours in coastal tourism.
"Not only will tourism take a direct hit immediately but it will be irreparably damaged for the coming years. Due to the particular advantages we enjoy, ‘specialist tourism’ will play a major part in the future of tourism in Ireland and needs to be a growth area. However, instead of attracting sea anglers – a specialist area – these new proposals will turn them away.
"Sea anglers, particularly those from the UK, have options when it comes to choosing their holiday location. Irish tourism is already suffering as a result of the depreciation of Sterling and the huge difference in VAT rates will also make it worse.
"The EU proposals are a needless attack that will do nothing for sustainability while directly harming our tourism industry. This week, the Fisheries Minister meets his EU counterparts in Brussels and he must not be press-ganged into making a decision that will irreparably harm Irish tourism."
