October 13, 2003

Floundering


Not a good day for Ireland's fishermen. The area of the North Atlantic off the west and south coast of Ireland restricted to mainly Irish fishing boats is known as the Irish Box. In a vote that displeased both Ireland and Spain (who want it removed altogether), the Irish Box has been reduced to one third of its former size.


The Spanish (and Basque) fleet reflects centuries of fishing tradition, of ships that have mined the seas of Europe, Africa and America. The capacity of that fleet dwarfs that of Ireland's, and is a voracious beast that must keep seeking new fishing grounds to maintain itself. Alas, there are very few new sea territories left.


The Basques were trading cod a millenium ago and when Jacques Cartier claimed the entrance to the St. Lawrence river in Canada for France in 1534, he noted the presence of a thousand Basque fishing boats (ref. cod by Mark Kurlansky).

The 'new' Irish Box isn't good news in the short term for any fisherman. Apart from the reduced size, it is also designated as a conservation area which presumably means that Irish and Spanish fishermen will be excluded equally. Of course, unless there are a lot more conservation areas, there won't be any fishermen at all, simply because there will be no more fish. Given the slow rate of decision making, and the amount of political bickering, it doesn't look good for the fishies.

Posted by Monasette at October 13, 2003 11:36 PM | TrackBack
Comments

I am starting to appreciate your insights into things Irish. I do enjoy the images you present and the links that you are able to make with your essays. The style of your log is so very different from my own. Thank you for it.

Posted by: Julie at October 14, 2003 09:51 PM

*blush* - thanks for that. Your site reminds me of the great time I had on vacation in Oz a few years ago.
/John

Posted by: John at October 14, 2003 10:10 PM

Hah ... the world is a small place really, is it not. When were you in Australia? Where do you go when you were over here?

I live in Bondi and we are pretty top-heavy with Irish back-packers a lot of the time. This is a most exciting place to live because the suburbs are full of young people from other lands having the time of their live mostly.

Posted by: Julie at October 15, 2003 02:15 PM

I spent a week in Sydney, in a hotel right on Bondi Beach - the sea was just a little bit warmer than the sea on the west coast of Ireland. I also spent a week in Cairns (highlight was diving in the Great Barrier Reef) and finished off with a week on the East coast, south of Perth (had to sample the wines)
/John

Posted by: John at October 15, 2003 03:14 PM

Not the Swiss Grand by any chance? And diving off Cairns is an experience isn't it. I went their with a girlfriend at the end of '99. Perth is on the West Coast ... but you are forgiven. Margaret River is a beautiful area and the wines they produce there are an absolute delight ... although overpriced to buggery!!

Posted by: Julie at October 16, 2003 02:51 PM