Tatjana Turcina

They Sold Ireland Out, For Brexit

This series explores small fishing communities in Ireland directly impacted by Brexit where they are increasingly frustrated by diminishing fishing quotas imposed by the EU following Britain’s departure from the Union. The consequences for small coastal communities who rely solely on fishing is immeasurable. The new EU agreement on fisheries, stipulates that quotas available to European vessels operating in UK waters will be reduced by 25% over the next five years. A recent Seafood Sector Taskforce Report argued that one solution would be a ‘temporary voluntary fleet tie-up scheme’ to counter the impact of the reduction in quotas.

The three fishing ports that I visited were Howth, Rossaveel and Killybegs revealed that many fishing boats are idle, tied up on the pier, while fishing communities are doing their best to resist these what they see as punitive measures. The future is uncertain and the fallout from Brexit continues unabated.