Fishing Industry must be central in the next Assembly - McCallister
Ulster Unionist Assembly candidate for South Down, John McCallister has said that a restored Assembly must formulate a comprehensive approach to ensuring that the Northern Ireland fishing industry is robustly represented and its interests defended.
Speaking from Kilkeel, Mr McCallister said: “This winter has been one of the worst on record for fishermen in the South Down area. In the run-in to Christmas, thanks to bad weather, the local fleet has only managed to put to sea on few occasions and this situation has continued through the opening two months of this year. This situation has resulted in severe hardship for those who rely on the sea for their living and it is compounded by the fact that those who have tried to claim benefits have been refused help.
“Whilst it is true that much of the policy impacting on the fishing industry is now decided in Brussels I believe that our local Assembly could do much more than it has done in the past.
“The next Assembly must not be allowed to treat the fishing industry as some sort of ‘side issue’. The Northern Ireland fishing industry must be made to been seen as being as important to Northern Ireland as is health and education.
“I will work to secure the renovation of Kilkeel Harbour and bring it up to the appropriate safety standards whilst also making it a commercially viable enterprise.”
“Achieving this will involve the Assembly in formulating a united policy approach to fishing with the core aim being that the interests of fishermen in places like Ardglass and Kilkeel are properly represented and protected.”
“Fishermen from Ardglass and Kilkeel are not asking to be treated differently from anyone else. All they are seeking is a fair livelihood for themselves and their families.”
“In the Assembly I will be striving to ensure their interests are not neglected, not overlooked and not ‘side-lined’ – but instead made a central and important issue.”