Ní Riada wins electric pulse trawling battle

Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada has won her long standing battle with the EU against electric pulse trawling.

Last night both the European Parliament and EU Member States finally agreed to outlaw the practice.

The Ireland South MEP, who sits on the EU Fisheries Committee and was a key negotiator and rapporteur on the issue, had first proposed an amendment to ban pulse trawling over a year ago.

“It has been a long, hard battle, but I think our environment, Irish fishermen and Irish coastal communities will agree it was worth the effort,” she said.

“It is slightly disappointing that through their EPP group and their representation in the European Council, Fine Gael have managed to delay this being implemented until 2021. However, it’s still a good result.

“The fact of the matter regarding pulse fishing is that we simply don’t know the long term effects it will have on stocks or the environment.

“It would be highly irresponsible at the best of times to allow any such practice to go ahead unfettered without first thoroughly researching it but with Brexit posing the biggest threat to our fishing industry in history we have to be more protective of Irish waters than ever.

“The practice simply has too many unknowns and as our fishermen face into the greatest crisis their industry has ever seen I am not minded to begin taking risks with their livelihoods.

“There are still a myriad of issues that the Irish fishing industry has with the EU but today’s result has demonstrated that with the right representation positive change is possible.”