Written Evidence submitted by Patrick M. Close (Chairman) on behalf of Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Co-operative Society Ltd. (FSH0219)
Executive Summary
The purpose of this submission is to respectfully bring to the attention of the Inquiry the concerns of Inland Fisheries and in particular the fishing industry on Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland.
It is vital that the consideration currently being given to the future of the UK fishing industry in the preparation of a White Paper should include the interests of eel fishermen on Lough Neagh.
Lough Neagh is renowned for its eel fishing industry. It has the reputation as being the main source of the best quality wild-caught eels available anywhere in Europe. Given the fact that the eel fishing industry on Lough Neagh is heavily reliant on markets in mainland Europe we must ensure that any future trade agreements deliver the most favourable outcome for the industry on Lough Neagh. The primary considerations within this submission include;
Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland is the largest freshwater lake in the UK, extending to approximately 400km2. It is also home to the largest wild eel fishery in Europe.
The Lough Neagh eel fishery is worth approximately £3 million to the N. Ireland rural economy annually. UK WGEEL National Report 2015 (ICES 2015) in reference to the Neagh/Bann RBD records, ‘The System sustains the largest remaining commercial wild eel fishery in Europe, producing 16.3% of total EU landings and supplying 3.4% of the entire EU market (wild-caught + aquaculture) in 2013’. The most recent figures (2016) show that the Neagh/Bann System accounts for 13.8% of all EU yellow and silver eel landings and 4% of the total EU production when aquaculture output is included.
Ownership of the eel fishing rights together with the rights to most other commercial species (including trout, pollan, perch , pike, bream and roach) found in the lake rest with Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Co-operative Society Ltd. (hereafter ‘the Society’) which has its headquarters at Toomebridge, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland.
The Society was established in 1965 to represent the interests of local fishermen and by 1972 had acquired outright control of the company known as Toome Eel Fishery (NI) Ltd. together with the afore-mentioned eel fishing rights. One of the Society’s chief objectives has been to manage the eel industry on Lough Neagh in such a way as to provide a reasonable livelihood for those currently involved in the industry but also to build a sustainable and viable future for succeeding generations of fishermen.
The fishing industry on Lough Neagh is one with a rich heritage and is steeped in the traditions and skills passed down through successive generations. More than 250 fishermen hold licences/permits to fish commercially on the lake making the industry a very significant contributor to the local rural economy. A review of Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Statistics confirms that Lough Neagh eel landings (worth approximately £3million) are of higher value than any other fin fish landed in N. Ireland ports.
Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Co-operative Society Ltd. is recognised as the largest producer of wild caught eels in Europe, producing around 350-380 tonnes of these fish annually. It has only been by careful management of the fishery through the control of fishing intensity and the strict application of a raft of conservation measures together with significant investment in restocking that it has been possible to maintain current levels of production from the Lough. This approach is aimed at securing a viable and sustainable future for the large number of fishermen and others who make their living from the eel industry. The Society has taken a proactive approach to the conservation of eel stocks in Lough Neagh for five decades and has played a vital role in efforts by the European Commission to bring about a recovery in the stock levels of the panmictic European Eel.
The Eel Management Plan (EMP) for the Neagh/Bann River Basin District forms the basis of the Society’s management strategy with regard to the requirements of Council Regulation EC No 1100/2007. The approval of its EMP in 2010 was essentially an endorsement of the policies and procedures adopted by the Society over many decades. Restocking is clearly a key element of the approved Neagh/Bann EMP and is aimed at enhancing the recovery of stocks both locally and elsewhere.
While the Neagh/Bann System has a significant commercial fishery it also:
• has proven levels of escapement which continue to meet EMP requirements
• provides an exceptional growing environment for eels
• has, for many decades, operated conservation measures which have been recognised as an example
of best practice and have been more recently adopted by other EU River Basin Districts.
In 2011 the ‘Lough Neagh Eel’ brand was awarded Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status under EU law; this marks the Lough Neagh eel as a unique food item alongside the Food Elite of Europe including such brands as Parma Ham, Champagne & Feta cheese and a range of notable produce originating from within the UK.
The eel fishery on Lough Neagh is unique among such fisheries in Europe insofar as the same organisation (namely, Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Co-operative Society Ltd.) has responsibility for the management of all of the freshwater life stages of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla), from the arrival on our shores of the juvenile glass eels from the spawning grounds of the Sargasso Sea through to the outward migration of mature silver eels up to 25 years later.
The Society has a proven track record in the implementation of robust conservation measures over the five decades of its management of the fishery. There has been a well-documented decline in the stocks of the European Eel across the continent dating back to the mid-1980s and the Society has played a key role in measures which have been applied since the introduction of Council Regulation EC no. 1100 in 2007 which gave rise to the formulation of an Eel Management Plan (EMP) for each River Basin District (RBD). The relevant EMP for the Neagh/Bann RBD was approved in 2010 and the Society has been deemed fully compliant at each review in the interim. It is also recognised that the conservation measures imposed through self-regulation by the Society throughout its five decade tenure have been used as a model for Eel Management Plans approved and adopted across the continent.
A key component of our efforts has been a restocking programme involving the transfer of glass eels from elsewhere into the local System. This has necessitated investment in excess of £5.8 million in the purchase of juvenile fish during the course of the past 30 years. The introduction of EMPs in 2009/10 and the acceptance of restocking of this type as an approved measure opened the door to funding under EMF and EMFF for restocking. The net contribution by the Society towards restocking of this type now exceeds £3.6 million.
It should be understood that investment of this type is a long-term project since fish introduced into Lough Neagh through natural recruitment or supplementary restocking can take up to 25 years to reach maturity. Therefore the funding, be it from Europe or in the form of match funding from regional Government, must equally be regarded as a long term investment the benefit of which will not be fully realised until many years into the future.
A further point of note is that the vast majority of the glass eels purchased annually for restocking are sourced from within GB, primarily from fisheries on the Rivers Severn, Parrett and Wye and the glass eel fisheries in those regions therefore have a significant interest in the industry on Lough Neagh as a customer.
The history of the eel industry on Lough Neagh clearly demonstrates a successful alliance of commercial activity with robust and effective conservation measures. In fact without one the other would not be possible.
The eel fishery on Lough Neagh because of its science-based approach and its standing within Europe is probably one the most regulated fisheries to be found anywhere.
For some decades the Society has supplied two main market outlets;
a) The Netherlands (with some onward supply to Germany and Belgium) and
b) GB, primarily through Billingsgate Market.
Our total throughput has averaged 350 -380 tonnes per annum in recent years. Of that approximately 80% have been shipped to the European mainland with just short of 20% sold into GB. The eels shipped to the continental mainland are almost exclusively retailed as a smoked eel product (either whole or filleted) while most of those shipped to London are destined for the jellied eel trade.
There remains a strong demand for Lough Neagh eel in regions of Europe with a strong tradition in eel consumption arising mainly from the premium quality of the fish and their suitability for traditional smoking methods adopted in those regions.
It is therefore imperative that any trade agreements established through the ongoing discussions on post-EU membership should facilitate the continued trade with our traditional European markets. It is equally important that continued trade is not subject to punitive tariffs which would result in further pressure on margins and earnings for fishermen.
We are concerned that with the relative isolation of the inland fishery on Lough Neagh and the current political impasse in this region that our interests could easily be overlooked to the detriment of the many fishermen who rely on it for their livelihood. We would respectfully submit that there is a need for a direct link with stakeholders such as ourselves and to state that we are ready and willing to engage in future discussions in all of the matters pertinent to our concerns.