The Government can no longer ignore Fishermen’s voices.
That was the message from over one thousand fishermen, and women.
They've marched to the Convention Centre, to protest the low quotas for the industry.
1,000 People, 70 Ships But One Message
From Kinsale to Killybegs, 70 vessels, 1,000 people and one clear message arrived to the Dáil this afternoon.
Cormac Burke from the Irish Fishing and Seafood Alliance explains why they’re demonstrating:
"Ireland is now left with 15% of the quotas in it's own waters."
"If you can image the Irish waters as a football pitch, we're only allowed into one penalty box."
Fishing Families Are Worried About The Future
Skipper Kevin Doyle from Killybegs fears he could be the last generation of fishermen in his family:
"I have children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who would love to go into fishing."
"But there's no future for them at the moment."
"They'd have to look into some other line of work."
"This doesn't add up to very much, you couldn't pay a mortgage on it."
"It Just Gets Worse"
Meanwhile, Donal Healy, a young fisherman from Dunmore East, has begun to question his future in the industry:
"I'm only 30, I started skippering when I was 24."
"It just gets worse and worse and worse."
They delivered a seven point list to the Government today.
It includes issues like a penalty points system, weighing catches on the pier and the low quotas.
