2.6 



IRELAND 



The Atlantic Challenge, launched in 1986, was the first of several ultramodern ships delivered to Irish skippers 

 m the last few years. The $1 1 million Western Endeavor arrived in 1987. This was followed by the 4,034-GRT 

 super trawler Veronica and the 4, 042-GRT At lantean II which were delivered in 1988. These ultra-modem vessels 

 established Ireland as a major fishing power in the North Sea. It was reported that the Irish Government was 

 planning to spend $179 million for the development of Irish fisheries, including purchase of bigger vessels in 1990. 

 The Irish high-seas fleet included 8 pelagic vessels registering nearly 12,000-GRT in 1992. Some of these vessels 

 could be sold; indeed, the Atlantean II was sold shortly after it was delivered. These vessels could also be shifted 

 to distant-water fishing grounds where they would be able to operate efficiently. To date, however, the skippers 

 of these vessels have operated only in the North Atlantic. 



CONTENTS 



1. General Background 101 



2. Fleet Background 102 



3. Modernization Programs 102 



4. Decommissioning Programs 103 



5. Shipyards 103 



6. International Agreements 103 



7. Fleet Dispersal Plans 103 



Sources 103 



Endnotes 107 



1. General Background 



Irish waters are rich with fish and attracted 

 fishing fleets from Holland, Spain, France, England, 

 and Scotland well before Irish fishermen began 

 harvesting fish off their shores. ' Irish fishermen have 

 a short tradition of inshore fishing.- The An Bord 

 lascaigh Mhara (BIM, or the Irish Sea Fisheries 

 Board) was established in 1952 and was charged with 

 assisting in the growth of the fishing industry. 

 Ireland joined the EC in 1972 and extended its 

 Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to 200 miles in 

 1976, excluding many of the nations that once fished 

 within a few miles of the Irish coast. Irish fishermen 



were disappointed when the nation joined the 

 Community because they received a very small quota 

 in comparison to other EC member states. The EC 

 provides catch quotas based on historical catches; the 

 small fleets of wooden dayboats caught comparatively 

 little fish as compared with other EC countries.' 

 Thus Ireland was allowed to fish a quota that is less 

 than 5 percent of the fishery resources inside it's own 

 200-mile limit. This has caused complaints by Irish 

 fishermen who see Spanish and other EC vessels 

 fishing in "their" waters" and who compare their 

 small quota against the 38-percent awarded to the 

 United Kingdom.^ The Irish have since argued their 

 case at the EC for more favorable treatment. It was, 



101 



