‘We’re very exposed and we would have felt the economic effects of this before anyone...’
DOWN south in Cahersiveen fisherman Alex Crowley fishes for lobster and crab. It’s a way of life he enjoys and he is very much conscious of the cultural significance fishing has in the hearts and minds of people in the region.
Alex is also Secretary of the National Inshore Fisherman’s Association and he has become accustomed to hearing the plight of Kerry fishermen over the past few weeks as they struggle to cope.
Alex says fishermen haven’t had a viable market for their fish since the beginning of March. Meanwhile, stocks of spider crab, brown and green crap and velvet crab are just examples of the highend product that is fished in Kerry waters and exported to niche markets abroad. It’s understandably a vulnerable market whenever an economic downturn occurs.
“An awful lot of our catch consists of fish that people wouldn’t even have heard of, so there is no real market here in Ireland for what we catch,” Alex says.
“From around March 15 the market literally collapsed overnight. Many inshore fishermen depend on lobster fishing in early March in the run up to Easter, when prices would be at their highest. Given that our weather was so bad this winter, this period would have given a chance for fishermen to make up for that lean period. What’s happened is a double blow to them.”
Alex explains that fishermen are availing of the existing COVID-19 emergency payment. However, this doesn’t stretch far enough in terms of meeting their running costs. Efforts at EU and Government level are already underway that will, hopefully, supply a relief package to fishermen.
“While we’re encouraging our members to avail of the COVID-19 payment, this wouldn’t cover additional costs of keeping a boat, insurance, higher purchase for vans, or light and heating costs in a premises. We’re very exposed and we felt the economic effects of this virus long before anyone else did. I’d be hoping for some form of economic package.”
Alex says even the loss of the local market is equally catastrophic as this would have sustained local fishermen during quieter periods.
“The local restaurant trade would have supplemented and acted as buffer for a lot of fishermen. But this is completely none existed too. Inshore fishing is a lot more than just about catching fish: it supports the local tourism industry by catching and supplying locally fresh produce that tourists expect. What we do isn’t just an economic activity, there’s a cultural and heritage aspect to it as well,” Alex concludes.
FROM AROUND THE MIDDLE OF MARCH THE MARKET LITERALLY COLLAPSED OVERNIGHT. IT’S VERY HARD.