ANNEX V COUNTRY STUDIES: IRELAND

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1 ANNEX V COUNTRY STUDIES: IRELAND 1 NATIONAL CONTEXT 1.1 OVERALL CONTEXT 1.2 DATA SOURCES 2 KEY DATA COLLECTED 2.1 EMPLOYMENT 2.2 LEGISLATION 2.3 ORGANISATION 2.4 EDUCATION & TRAINING 2.5 SOCIO-CULTURAL STATUS 2.6 ECONOMIC STATUS 3 CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 KEY FINDINGS 3.2 CONCLUSIONS Appendix 1: Bibliography Appendix 2: People interviewed Appendix 3: Relevant legislation March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 1

2 1 NATIONAL CONTEXT 1.1 OVERALL CONTEXT There is a general perception that the role women play in the fisheries sector in Ireland is still determined to a large extent by tradition. This defines the role of the woman as homemaker, as support for the fisherman, as labour in fish processing, but not as a fisher in her own right. The impact of tradition is at its greatest in the fish-catching sector; and is smallest in aquaculture. Regional difference have become evident in the course of the brief study, particularly in relation to the informal/unpaid role of wives as the book keeper/money holder in the family unit, in the fish catching sector. The role that women play in the processing sector, i.e. that of a source of labour, has generally been maintained, albeit in the context of the general decline in numbers employed within this sector. Fishing Different regions of Ireland exhibit slightly different roles for women. In the more rural and isolated parts of the country, women are more likely to be found playing a part in the physical side of fish catching, although often in the context of a family business. The lack of an alternative labour source in these locations forces the local society to overcome natural sensibilities in terms of established roles and has enabled some women (still very few) to put out to sea. However the more usual role, that of informal/unpaid book keeper, fish salesperson, whilst it has diminished in the more professional segments of the industry, still very much plays an integral part in maintenance of the social fabric in small, close-knit fishing communities. Fish Processing Tradition has dictated the role of women in fish processing both in Ireland as elsewhere in Europe. In communities dependent on a fishery, often the men would mostly be at sea trying to catch the fish. This left the women ashore the arduous role of landing, selling, processing and packing the catch off to market. Aquaculture Aquaculture in Ireland is dominated by the production of finfish, and to a large degree by the farming of the Atlantic salmon. Other finfish species, such as rainbow trout, are also farmed, and culture of species like the common mussel, pacific oyster, native oyster, sea urchin, scallop and clam also play important regional roles. Work on fish farms tends to be physically demanding, uncomfortable and arduous. Often farms are located in areas of rural isolation, where social traditions play an important and often restrictive role. Some farms are located out to sea (the offshore farms pioneered in Ireland) making their servicing as dangerous as fishing. Increasingly though, more women are making a mark in aquaculture in Ireland. The female role in this sector is less bound up in the male myths and traditions that surround fish catching. As the aquaculture sector in Ireland as elsewhere has developed outside the cultural traditions of the catching sector, the barriers to entry for women are lower. March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 2

3 1.2 DATA SOURCES Data for this study was collated from two main source types, Key reports and key respondents. Key reports are mainly the socio-economic studies and market survey reports, as well as a general literature review. Key respondents were chosen on the basis of high profile in the industry, personal knowledge and accessibility. Key respondents were initially telephoned and then sent a brief telephone questionnaire and recalled at a later date. The study focused on three Fisheries Dependent Areas (FDAs) in Ireland, as resources were not considered sufficient to carry out more in-depth social investigation. Whilst many of the views and opinions expressed originated from key respondents within the FDAs, much was not specific to the individual area, and came from their wider understanding of the subject. March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 3

4 2 KEY DATA COLLECTED 2.1 EMPLOYMENT Overview Table 1 provides a summary of employment in the Irish fisheries sector by status and FTEs (Full Time Equivalents of part-time work). Figure 1 shows the regional distribution of fishing employment by NUTS 3 Regions and at the national level. The sources of employment data for each sub-sector are described in detail below, however it should be noted that a report for the Department of the Marine in 1997 highlighted the fact that reliable data on total employment in the sector is difficult to obtain, and there is some doubt about its reliability. The report estimates total sector employment (fleet, processing, aquaculture and ancillary) in 1992 as 15,470, with fishing fleet employment being 7,700 people. The 1991 and 1996 Censuses of Population give numbers of Fishing and related workers as 3,033 persons and 2,892 people respectively, which indicates that there is some discrepancy between numbers of fishermen presented for However, it should be noted that the 1996 Census of Population is carried out during the night, and hence fishermen at sea on that night were not counted. Table 1 Total employment in the whole fisheries sector (1997) Segment Full-time Part-time Total employment (number) (number) (total) (FTE) Fleet 4,790 1,484 6,274 5,494 Processing 2,111 2,809 4,920 3,262 Aquaculture 556 1,642 2,198 1,092 Ancillary 1, ,000 1,700 TOTAL 8,857 6,535 15,392 11,548 Source: Adapted From BIM Seafood Industry Agenda , March 1999 Using Data Supplied Separately By BIM For Employment In The Processing And Culture Sectors At A NUTS 4 Breakdown And By Categories Of Hours Worked. As a consequence of the investment made in the Irish fisheries sector, output is growing. Increased access to fishing opportunities by the Irish fleet, after a re-evaluation of resource entitlement under the Common Fisheries Policy, has increased the diversity of landings. Whilst many vessels in the Irish Sea have suffered restrictions on opportunities due to stock decline, there is much new and renewed interest in deepwater and migratory species, partially as a result of the whitefish fleet renewal programme. There is huge investment already in the aquaculture sector, and more is planned, with the aim of developing 4,000 new sustainable jobs. The current position is summarised in the table below. March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 4

5 Table 2: Gender differentiated employment in the fisheries sector Data Women Men Total Fish capture 0% 100% 5,494 Aquaculture 30% 70% 1,092 Fish Processing 45% 55% 3,262 Ancillary/admin etc N/A N/A 1,700 Total N/A N/A 11,548 (Source: Regional socio-economic studies on employment and the dependency on fishing Ireland, MEP Ltd. November Figures in full time equivalents (FTE) * % Best BIM estimates Border West Midland Mid-East Dublin South-West Mid-West South-East 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 "All Capture Fisheries" Inshore Fisheries Processsing Aquaculture, Mariculture and Inland Fisheries Ancillary 0 Ireland Totals (Fte) Figure 1 Map of Ireland showing employment by sub-sector (NUTS 3, 1997) The development of the Irish economy has encouraged many young workers to move into others forms of employment that have more structure, less antisocial conditions and conform more to the social norms. Also, the increasingly restrictive management regime puts many young potential participants off entering the fisheries sector. The prospects for March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 5

6 advancement are increasingly limited, and the entry costs can be very high - for example, the massive investment required to buy a vessel and licence Employment by sub-sector Data on employment in the processing and aquaculture sectors is available annually from the CSO and BIM. Employment in the catching sector is not published annually but recent estimates have been undertaken by BIM as part of the work on the recent Seafood Industry Agenda and Irish Inshore Fisheries Sector studies published in March and June (1999) respectively. The Seafood Industry Agenda study calculates that there is one full time equivalent (FTE) employee for every two people employed in the fleet. Similarly, three people employed in processing equate to one FTE (in processing), whilst two employees in aquaculture equate to one FTE and two employees in ancillary industries equate to one FTE in this sector. Marine capture fisheries A total of 6,274 fishermen are active in the sector equating to 5,494 FTEs according to BIM. Approximately 76% of total numbers employed in capture fisheries are full-time workers, whilst the remaining part-time workers are also active in other sectors, having supplementary employment in agriculture, tourism, etc. The majority of fishermen with other income generating activities fish from small coastal inshore vessels which have low profitability, partly due to declining stocks of shellfish, itself caused by poor management. It is estimated that 100% of fishermen are male in Ireland, and there is no tradition or examples of women being employed at sea. Table 3 Regional breakdown of employment in capture fishing (NUTS 3 & 4, 97) Region Employment NUTS 3 NUTS 4 (County / Borough) (FTE) Border Cavan 4 Border Donegal 920 Border Louth 180 Border Sligo 72 Dublin Dublin / all Dublin areas 384 Mid East Kildare 6 Mid East Meath 4 Mid East Wicklow 110 Mid West Clare 54 Mid West Limerick / Limerick Borough 2 South East Waterford / Waterford Borough 205 South East Wexford 418 South West Cork / Cork Borough 1,134 South West Kerry 714 West Galway / Galway Borough 910 West Mayo 377 Total 5,494 Source: BIM Seafood Industry Agenda , March 1999, regional breakdown made specially available. March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 6

7 2.1.3 Inshore fisheries It has been estimated that there are approximately 3,700 fishermen employed in the inshore sector of which equates to approximately 2,700 FTEs, supporting a total of 11,800 dependants (survey estimate of 3.21 dependants per fisherman employed in the inshore sector). Employment in this sector of the industry correlates with social deprivation in Ireland. Employment is seasonal, particularly focusing on the summer months when crustacean potting and salmon drift netting are best. The median age in all sectors is between 30 and 35 years of age. Crew employed in the inshore sector tend to be of similar age to those in the offshore sector. However, the median age of skippers in the inshore fleet is nearly 40 whereas in the offshore fleet it is less than 35 years. Approximately 16% of skippers in the inshore fleet are over 55 years old whilst 3.5% of skippers in the offshore fleet are of this age. Around 67% of inshore fishermen surveyed felt that they have no form of alternative employment whilst a much smaller proportion indicated that they could find employment in construction and tourist sectors. It was calculated that between 23% and 42% of total income needs are dependent on sources other than fishing in this sector, i.e. other employment or social welfare Processing The majority of the jobs in the processing sector in Ireland are part-time (57%). There are a large number of people (4,920) employed in fish processing, this being the equivalent of 3,261 full time jobs (see table 4). County Donegal (Border) is the most important region for fish processing, with about 32% of all processing employment (in FTE terms). BIM have informally estimated that between 40-45% of all fish processing workers are female but a regional breakdown was not available. March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 7

8 Table 4: Employment in the processing sector by region (NUTS 3 & 4, 1997) Region Employment NUTS 3 NUTS 4 (County / Borough) (FTE) (total) Border Donegal 1,053 1,696 Border Louth Border Sligo Dublin Dublin / all Dublin areas Mid East Wicklow 9 14 Mid West Clare Mid West Limerick / Limerick Borough South East Waterford / Waterford Borough South East Wexford South West Cork / Cork Borough South West Kerry West Galway / Galway Borough West Mayo West Roscommon Total 3,261 4,920 Source: BIM Seafood Industry Agenda , March 1999 and BIM direct. Note: FTE employment estimates have been made based upon detailed NUTS 4 data recording numbers employed by activity per year (number of weeks employed per year). See Excel Table 12 in Appendix 1 for details. The pelagic processing sector offers full and part time employment, especially in the North West, South East and West. However employment levels vary greatly, because of the wide seasonal variations in landings (see figure 2). Demersal processing is much more steady because of the more constant availability of raw materials. Processing of aquaculture products is usually carried out at the farms as it involves very basic packing/grading. 35,000 30,000 Landings (tonnes) 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 jan feb mar apr may june july aug sept oct nov dec Demersal Pelagic Shellfish Figure 2 Seasonality of landings by major fishery type (1997) March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 8

9 2.1.5 Aquaculture Approximately 2,198 people in total are employed in the mariculture and freshwater aquaculture industries in Ireland of which 25% are full time workers, while 75% are part time or seasonal workers. It has been calculated that there are around 1,092 FTE jobs in the industry. BIM have informally estimated that 30% of aquaculture workers, at the national level, are female. A regional breakdown is not available. Table 5: Breakdown of mariculture & freshwater aquaculture employment (NUTS 3, 1997) Region Freshwater aquaculture Mariculture (FTE) (Total) (FTE) (Total) Border Dublin Mid-East Mid-West South-East South-West West Total 1,219 1, Source:BIM Note: NUTS 4 breakdown of employment by species is shown in Appendix 1: Excel Data Tables Inland fisheries There are approximately 150 fishermen producing wild-caught eels in inland waters. Most inland fishing is recreational or tourism orientated, though. 2.2 LEGISLATION The rights of Irish women employed in the fisheries sector are protected through the Employment Equality Act 1998, which replaced earlier legislation (ie the Anti Discrimination (Pay) Act 1974 and the Employment Equality Act 1977). The rights of the individual in society at large are protected by the Equal Status Act Section 15 of the Employment Equity Act 1998 provides for positive action in the provision of training for women who are under-represented in a particular field. These rights are protected through the upholding of this legislation, and the Equality Authority, established on the 18 th October 1999, has this role in the Irish republic. The Irish State also has established maternity rights, and in general, the Government appears to have taken EU law as being the principal paradigm for legislation now. Accordingly they have incorporated as many EU directives as possible into the two wide ranging acts mentioned above. The provisions in these two key acts are summarised below, and are described in more detail in Appendix 3. March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 9

10 (i) The Employment Equality Act, 1998, inter alia prohibits gender-based discrimination in the workplace on pay, training, promotion or working conditions, as well as outlawing sexual harassment and defining processes for investigation and enforcement in the gender arena. (ii) The Equal Status Act, 2000, reinforces the employment act to spread the prohibition of discrimination to social, socio-economic and commercial activity at large within Ireland There is a general belief that Ireland has gained in terms of equality and access to employment by women as a result of membership of the European Union. The National Women s Council of Ireland was originally formed as the Council for the Status of Women in Historically the responsibility for gender equality has been within the office of the Prime Minister. However, for a short period ( ) a Ministry of Equality and Law Reform existed which took over this mandate. This ministry was swallowed up and in 1997 became an equality section in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. There has been recent clear emphasis on positive action to improve gender equality by the Irish Government, with a significant budget commitment made in Equality has also been firmly incorporated into Ireland s National Development Plan for the period The body that oversees observance of gender equality (amongst other forms of inequality) - the Equality Authority (EA) - was established in Ireland on 18 th October This was set up as an independent body under the Employment Equality Act The EA replaced the former Employment Equality Agency. They are responsible for ensuring that the Employment Equality Act (1998) and the Equal Status Act (2000) are effective in outlawing discrimination in employment, vocational training, advertising, collective agreements, the provision of goods and services and other opportunities open to the general public. There are nine distinct grounds on which discrimination is prohibited: gender; marital status; family status; age; disability; race; sexual orientation; religious belief; membership of the Traveller Community. 1 March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 10

11 2.3 ORGANISATION Unions From the information available, it seems that men and women belong to the same unions, where representation exists. In the public sector (for public servants) there is a strong element of union representation amongst workers, particularly in the context of agreed pay scales. This has the positive effect of ensuring equal pay and working conditions within organisations. The International Transport Workers Federation (ITWF) has a women s and a fisheries section with some knowledge of the Irish fisheries sector. The Service, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU) has a fisheries section, however this brief study has been unable to determine how many members actively engaged in the fishery and in what capacity Trade Associations As the numbers of women involved in the fisheries sector (outside of the processing labour) is so small, representation of women in these organisations is perforce small. Where women are involved in fisheries, such as in the mussel fishery, they belong to the same organisations as men Specialist women s clubs There is an organisation Mna na mhara or Women of the Sea, which operates in Ireland. The equivalent group in the UK, Women and the Sea, is an informal group, with a website, that details the historical and current role of women engaged in a range of marine activities, from pirate women of yesteryear through to current day female salvage operators and on occasion, female fisheries officers. The awareness by key respondents of this organisation was low, and so there was little feedback on its activities in Ireland Women s positions in their organisations Women who play a role within trade associations and producer associations are given equal respect to that of their male counterparts. There are, and have been in the past, some female heads of local fishermen s organisations (the Lobster fishermen s association on the west coast of Ireland, the South Eastern Fishermen s co-operative), however the numbers who have attained the higher positions reflect the general levels of gender imbalance in the overall sector Support facilities There do not appear to be any dedicated support facilities available to women in the fisheries sector in Ireland. In some areas there has been discussion of provision of some facilities, mobile crèches etc, that could work in conjunction with the mobile BIM training unit, thereby encouraging more women to participate in training activities. However as of yet, this has just been talk. In other sectors of the industry, again the evidence would suggest that either there is, as yet, insufficient critical mass (of women in March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 11

12 the sector) or interest to force industry operators to develop such resources. There is some flexibility within the working environment, particularly within the public sector, in terms of arranging childcare and caring for sick children, though. 2.4 EDUCATION & TRAINING Women have an equal access to training resources within Ireland. There may be areas where women appear to be under represented in terms of training uptake, such as cage diver courses or farm boat helmsmen. However this is as a result of both the small number of women within the industry and also the physical nature of a particular occupation. By contrast, in other segments of the industry, such as in education and research, women predominate. 2.5 SOCIO-CULTURAL STATUS Women s traditional roles in the rural communities of the Irish Republic have been maintained to a degree. This is true from both the man s and the woman s perspectives. In fishing communities a number of factors deter women from active participation in fishing, specifically: The extended periods spent away from the home, The intimidating physical nature of the activity, The lack of facilities on board vessels, The way in which fellow women in a community (e.g. wives of male crew onboard a vessel that has some female crew) would perceive a woman undertaking a traditionally male activity, This reaction seems to be more related to social attitudes than to any religious doctrine. The working conditions are often uncomfortable at best, brutal at worse and sometimes dangerous. There is no great stability in the industry, because of the unreliability of the resource. Often the alternatives job opportunities are more attractive. The situation is rather different in the aquaculture sector. As a vibrant and relatively recent industry in the Irish republic, the traditions associated with social behaviour are not as deeply entrenched. Aquaculture in Ireland has benefited, and continues to benefit, 2 from large-scale inward investment by the Irish State and the European Commission. Evidence from respondents suggests that more women play active roles, not just in the development and management of the industry, but also in production. However there is still a long way to go before there is equality. There are many powerful disincentives to taking up employment in any part of the industry for men, but more so for women. The physical nature of the job was mentioned by respondents, however whilst the work 2 BIM Aquaculture management plan March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 12

13 undeniably requires an element of physical strength, increased mechanisation and improved working practices on many farm sites, have reduced this barrier to an extent. The fish-processing sector is diverse in terms of location and species involved. There are processing facilities tied to the large operators of aquaculture farms, but in the main, fish processing in Ireland is concentrated in Killybegs. Although the port has a significant fleet of whitefish trawlers, only a portion of this catch is processed, with much direct export to European markets. The processing concentrates on the pelagic species for human consumption, mainly mackerel, sometimes herring and more recently blue whiting. Although women play an important role as processing labour, men are in a significant majority. There is also some shellfish processing in the west and on the east coast, and most fishing ports have some processing capacity. With the Irish economy currently growing rapidly, there are alternative employment opportunities in most sectors. In the light of this, it seems highly likely that a key reason why women do not seem to participate fully in the fisheries sector is quite simply that they neither want nor need to Status of Fisheries-related Jobs In the catching sector, particularly in the more isolated areas, until recently fishing was generally perceived as an activity on a par with farming. This has started to change, partly due to the activities of Kevin McHugh, the owner of one of the largest fishing vessels in the world, the 144m Atlantic Dawn. Mr McHugh came originally from the small community of Achill Island, and has over the course of 30 years built his fishing empire from scratch. His profile and the press coverage of the vessel s launch and premier docking in Killybegs and Dublin has raised the image and status of those in the fishing community in Ireland significantly. The catching industry also is part of the way through an extensive whitefish fleet renewal programme, part funded by Government/EU loans, part funded through private finance. It is becoming the source of some pride for the Irish nation, after having been so long in the doldrums. There is a much more positive view of the opportunities available within the industry now, than say 5 years ago, although there is still some way to go. There are many small ageing inshore vessels, mostly working from ports on the east coast, mostly targeting the whelk fishery, that retain the traditional low status image. Aquaculture has generally been seen in a much more positive light. The status of those that work in the sector is dependant on the type of employment, with a labourer on a salmon farm seen in very much the same way as a terrestrial farm hand. There has been some negative publicity about aquaculture, particularly finfish cage farming, and this has impacted to an extent on the perception of society of aquaculture. An informal survey of the socials status of fisheries occupations was made during the study, and the results of this are given below. This provides a status map of the sector, March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 13

14 so defining the likely interest of people in entering fisheries occupations, given freedom of choice. Table 6: Social status of fisheries sector occupations Activity Social category A or 1 B or 2 C1or 3 C2 or 4 D or 5 Fishing overall Skipper at Sea Crew at Sea Support/admin Aquaculture overall Stock Husbandry Technical/lab Management/marketing Processing Overall Foreman (factory floor) Worker (factory floor) Technical/lab Mgmt/Source/Mkts Admin/Management Women in high, medium or low status jobs Because the physical nature of fishing and aquaculture tends to exclude many women from participating in the lower level activities, women tend to be better represented in jobs that carry medium to high status. Women play a prominent role in management and policy agencies in Ireland, occupying senior positions. However, in the fish-processing sector, women occupy positions at all levels, from low-status factory floor shift workers, to supervisors and quality controllers, or sales and marketing staff. In some cases women are managers or founders of processing companies. This is more so the case in the shellfish aquaculture sector than in pelagic and other finfish production. 2.6 ECONOMIC STATUS Earnings/salary levels for those working within both fisheries and aquaculture segments start at around the I 20,000per annum, and rise to I 35-40,000 for those in more senior positions. For those fortunate enough to be on a high achieving pelagic vessel (e.g. Killybegs-based vessels) earnings for the crew range between I ,000 a year and for the skipper probably up to I 300,000 - higher if the skippers/crew have any part of the ownership of the vessels. March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 14

15 Those on small inshore trawlers or static gear boats find themselves at the opposite end of the spectrum with some vessels struggling to achieve a profit (especially last year with the price hike in fuel). For example the whelk boats on the east coast have a good day if they get 20 bags (45-50kgs/bag) a day fetching I 25 a bag. These boats are mostly manned by three (including skipper who is also likely to be the owner), probably working days per year. Consequently they gross only around I 85,000 before costs, which is split between three i.e. they each earn significantly less than I 25,000 per year In general, there does not appear to be much difference between men s and women s earnings. Where there is a gender difference in remuneration for ostensibly identical work, this may be due to a lack of real parity between the positions, in spite of titles or appearances. This is the case for the aquaculture sector, according to anecdotal feedback. However, anecdotal evidence also suggests that there are gender-based earning differentials in the processing sector of around 20% (i.e. the discount in women s earnings in positions comparable to their male counterparts is 20%). That said, at the management/administration level typified by public servants (Irish Civil Servants), staff are on graded pay scales, and as such there are no gender differentials in these rates Apart from in the processing sector then, there seems on the face of it to be equal pay for equal work. However the definition of what actually is equal work is often vague, and a man and a woman in equal positions can still be paid differing amounts. Thus earnings parity is something of an illusion in many cases and the differentials found elsewhere in Europe apply to Ireland. No doubt this has a deterrent effect on women in the sector. In the Irish aquaculture women do have a more prominent role, though, with some women becoming farm hands and farm managers. Perhaps this is the result of a combination of willing employee s, labour shortages, a more modern and buoyant society. This, together with a stronger tradition of women playing a role on the land, has perhaps all translated into a more equal role for women in aquaculture. March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 15

16 3 CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 KEY FINDINGS Diversification potential of women: Increased contribution and alternatives. Women s contribution to the sector Women occupy a range of positions across the sector. Whilst not being prominent in fishing per se (although 3 women did qualify as skippers in the early 1990 s 3 ), there are women who have played and continue to play prominent roles in the sector. There are senior female public servants entrusted with the development and implementation of fisheries and aquaculture policy (at the Department of the Marine & Natural Resources and at BIM). Women also head up large fish/shellfish production companies, and there are female fish and shellfish wholesalers, prominent research scientists etc. However, the sector is still dominated by men, and often the women that attain these positions of prominence are trailblazers for their sex. Analysis of key constraints and opportunities in key FDAs The fisheries sector in Ireland is subject to a contrasting set of constraints and opportunities. With some I70 million allocated to the whitefish fleet renewal programme, and some 400 million set aside for further developments in the aquaculture sector, there are significant opportunities. Conversely all the FDAs and indeed the entire Irish fisheries sector, suffer from one major constraint to their development; the lack of suitably qualified, educated and trained labour. The booming economy and host of alternative opportunities in the urban areas are out-competing the fisheries sector in the contest for a highly limited and sought after labour resource. Donegal and Sligo This area contains nationally important fish capture, fish processing and aquaculture industries. Killybegs and Greencastle are both major ports, Killybegs in particular with its large modern fleet of pelagic vessels, and 20 or so large whitefish trawlers supplying the local processing sector and the export markets. This area has benefited from the whitefish fleet renewal programme, with several new vessels arriving in both Greencastle and Killybegs. Vessels from these two ports have also been engaged in fishing trials for deepwater species off the West Coast. If this fishery is fruitful, there is likely to be further positive benefit for the processing sector. The aquaculture industry is also significant with large quantities of fish and shellfish and seaweed farmed in the many sheltered coastal and tidal inlets. 3 Report on Equal opportunities in the fisheries sector DMNR, Ireland. March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 16

17 Galway and Clare Although the fishing sector is not of great importance, the port of Rosaveel is significant. Mainly a whitefish port, it has also benefited from the fleet renewal programme. A vessel from this port was also engaged in the exploratory fishing for deep-water species off the western seaboard. There is a strong and developing static gear fishery with some new and second-hand vivriere (live fish/mollusc transporting) boats supplying raw material to the shellfish processing industry, which is of regional importance. Galway is the major area for salmon aquaculture in Ireland, and Connemara in the Gaeltacht, is one of the principle locations for the revived seaweed cultivation sector. Cork and Kerry There are several major fishing ports within this FDA. Castletownbere, Union Hall, Baltimore and Kinsale, all have to varying degrees numbers of whitefish vessels. The offshore bluefin tuna fishery is based in this FDA. There are some processing facilities dependant on these fisheries, but the largest processing component is related to the aquaculture production of shellfish and finfish in Bantry Bay, County Cork. One of only two sea urchin hatcheries in Europe is located in Dunmanus Bay. Both Galway and Cork Universities have renowned marine science departments, producing high calibre graduates to participate in the industry, many of them female. The East Coast Whilst the East Coast is not as dependant on the fishing sector, there are prominent fisheries in some areas: e.g. the beam trawl fleet in Waterford and the mussel culture industry mainly in Wexford, but also Waterford and Strangford Lough in the north. There is also a fleet of smaller whitefish/shellfish vessels based along the east coast, in Howth, Bray, Wicklow and Wexford. General needs: lack of labour There is great demand for labour in all these areas. Often the physical nature of work in the sector is a disincentive for prospective new entrants, when there are equally well or better-paid alternatives. Respondents based in the capital noted that the national social issue of labour shortages is very evident on the East Coast as the pull of Dublin is that much greater. As the road network on the East Coast, and throughout the whole of the country is improved, so the more outlying areas are expanding economically rapidly, to cope with the population overflow from the increasingly prohibitively expensive major cities. As a result the building trade is operating at full capacity, with high earnings for those willing to work hard. As the towns expand, so do their retail and industrial activities, so drawing in more labour. The rural areas are also undergoing large social changes, with a major impact upon the workforce of these communities. Much of this change is generally positive, but the overall effect is much higher demand for labour. As there is greater choice and opportunity for rural inhabitants (in rural employment, and if they are prepared to move, in urban employment), traditional rural activities such as fishing and farming are facing potential decline March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 17

18 3.2 CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS Prospects for improving women s position: improving the sector s value to women Women s aspirations Do women in Ireland want to be involved in the fisheries sector at this time? Given the image that the industry has of being male dominated, and given that Ireland is going through an economic boom, it would hardly be surprising if women didn t want to take up careers in the sector. However there are increasing numbers who do. This is then somewhat unexpected but does merit a positive response, and this is the main focus for this section. There are potential opportunities for both women and men in the fisheries sector because need for labour resulting from Ireland s modernisation and economic expansion. Working in the sector has some advantages: hours can be flexible, worked outside the office environment. Frequently there are lifestyle benefits, because workers are able to live in areas of natural beauty, with a more relaxed pace of life, avoiding tiresome commuting etc. Furthermore, the rural environment is often a safer place to live and raise children. Thus there are reasons to opt for this less well-remunerated sector. For women currently involved at the management and policy level, there is still the implied assumption that they should be occupy the softer positions, albeit at senior level. This means that the perception is that women should take on areas such as personnel, marketing and administration. However as more women begin to occupy tougher career-orientated positions in management and policy, so this attitudinal barrier is begins to disappear. However, there clearly is a need for the numbers women employed in all parts of the fisheries sector to reach a critical mass, as without this the general perception of wider society will always be that it is a male-orientated occupation. The perceived barrier of the physical nature of the work, the requirement of physical strength is more about cultural perceptions of society at large, i.e. what society deems to be the correct roles for men and women. So how can society overcome this barrier of perception? Firstly, there is a need for wider relevant education and training in order to encourage more women to participate in the fisheries sector. It is evident that BIM are committed to equal opportunities in the primary sector, as shown by the provision of appropriate training facilities and courses at training centres in Greencastle in County Donegal and Casteltownbere in County Cork. That said, brochures and other material promoting the sector tend to predominately contain images that reinforce the social stereotype of man and women s roles, i.e. images of men as skippers, deckhands and engineers; women as operatives in hygiene & production. Clearly there is requirement for a general public awareness campaign to update this now inappropriate image of the sector. Alongside this, more egalitarian careers advice should be offered to schoolchildren who are interested in a career in the March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 18

19 industry- i.e. advice that does not impose the wider, now outdated, views of society of the roles men and women occupy in the sector. However, there is little point in challenging the inequalities in the structure of the industry if general attitudes of society remain the same. The fisheries sector has always been divided in terms of specific gender roles. During the course of this brief study, it has become apparent that many male participants are still not aware or familiar with gender issues and difficulties experienced by women in the sector. Until all participants become knowledgeable of these inherent restrictions within the system, the sector is unlikely to undergo any great change in the gender balance Prospects for improving women s positions in non-fdas From a fisheries point of view, the Border, Mid West and South West of Ireland are most important regions. However there are smaller pockets of dependence upon fisheries around the Irish coast. Examples are the fishing ports of Kilmore Quay, Dunmore East, Arklow and Howth, Some fishing vessels are based in Dun Laoghaire, Bray and Wicklow, and fish and shellfish processing occurs in Howth, Dublin and Wexford. Aquaculture is also important: e.g. bottom mussel growers in Wexford, Waterford and Strangford Lough, and eel farms in county Wicklow. The east coast fishery mostly concentrates on fishing the Irish Sea, and is currently going through a hard time as many stocks are at historical lows, leaving some fisheries dependent upon low value inshore activities like whelk production. The mussel growers of Wexford produce in excess of 50% of the Irish total production of bottom cultured product. The status of those engaged in fisheries activities in these Non- FDA s is likely lower than elsewhere, and the industry is becoming more marginalized as competition for coastal land intensifies. The current demand for new homes in Ireland is very high, and any community on the East Coast within commuting distance of Dublin is experiencing a rise in population. The image of the fishing industry (smell, elderly rusting vessels etc) does little to enamour itself to these more urban and sophisticated incomers. This is hardly likely to generate much interest in sector by women in the non-fdas. Even so, there apparently is some interest and this meets the same resistance described above in the FDAs. Thus right across the sector, in the non-fdas and FDAs alike, there is a need to change the way in which women view the industry and the way in which the industry views women. Increased education and access to training, backed up by some public awareness campaigning on the subject, are some positive approaches to helping overcome the social barriers to participation in cases where women do desire to enter the fisheries sector. March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 19

20 Appendix 1: Bibliography Department of the Marine and Natural Resources (DOMNR). (1998) Report on Equal Opportunities in the Fisheries Sector. Questionnaire based study produced for DMNR by Dept. of Geography, Trinity College, University of Dublin Training for the Fisheries Industry (1997). Dublin: European Social Fund Evaluation Unit. Feb Women s Training Provision (1994). Dublin: European Social Fund Evaluation Unit. April European Commission Directorate General XIV (Fisheries) Regional Socio-economic Studies on Employment and the Level of Dependency on Fishing: Ireland (1999) Lot 15. Final Report Nov 1999, produced by MacAlister Elliott & Partners. Regional socio-economic studies on employment and the level of dependency on fishing. Lot 20 Scotland and Northern Ireland. Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) December 1999 BIM Aquaculture management plan BIM, BIM Seafood Industry Agenda Realising the Potential of the Irish Seafood Industry (March 1999) BIM Irish Inshore Fisheries Sector: Review & Recommendations (May 1999) Donegal Fish Merchants Association Survey of Fish Processing Sector in Donegal, South-west (March 1998) Meredith, D. Strategic Importance of the Fishing sector to the Sustainable Development of Coastal and Rural Communities in Ireland. Rossaveal Pilot Case Study. (In preparation) EC DGXIV (Fisheries) Summary of structural interventions for fisheries in Ireland: FIFG and Community Initiative PESCA (10/06/97) EUROPA Web-site Department of the Marine (DoMNR) Making the most of Ireland's Marine and Natural Resources - Strategy Statement (1998) Employment Equality Act (1991) Equal Status Act (2000) Equality Authority web-site - March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 20

21 Appendix 2: People interviewed Helen Cooper, BIM (Bord Iascaigh Mhara) the Irish Sea Fisheries Board Mary Hanna at South West Shellfish Cooperative. Mary Kelly at the Department of the Marine & Natural resources (DoMNR) The Killybegs co-operative, The Irish Fishermen s Organization and the The Irish Fish Producers Organization March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 21

22 Appendix 3: Legislation relevant to women in fisheries The two principle acts that define women rights in the workplace and beyond are the Employment Equality Act and the Equal Status Act. The more relevant aspects of both are described below. Other legislation that effects women as employees (but has no gender connotations) is also listed. 1 The Employment Equality Act (1998) The Employment Equality Act (1998) describes itself in its Long Title and Introduction as: An act to make further provision for the promotion of equality between employed persons; to make further provision with respect to discrimination in, and in connection with, employment, vocational training and membership of certain bodies; to make further provision in connection with Council Directive No. 75/117/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the application of the principle of equal pay for men and women and Council Directive no. 76/207/EEC on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion, and working conditions; to make further provision with respect to harassment in employment and in the workplace; to change the name and constitution of the Employment Equality Agency and provide for the administration by that body of various matters pertaining to this act; to establish procedures for the investigation and remedying of various matters arising under this act; to repeal the anti-discrimination (pay) act, 1974, and the employment equality act, 1977, and to provide for related matters. [18 th June, 1998] be it enacted by the Oireachtas as follows: (here follows Act). 2 The Equal Status Act (2000) The Equal Status Act (2000) describes itself in its Long Title and Introduction as: An act to promote equality and prohibit types of discrimination, harassment and related behaviour in connection with the provision of services, property and other opportunities to which the public generally or a section of the public has access, to provide for investigating and remedying certain discrimination and other unlawful activities, to provide for the administration by the Equality Authority of various matters pertaining to this act, to amend the Employment Equality Act, March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 22

23 1998, in relation there to and in certain other respects and to provide for related matters. 3 Other legislation A number of other Acts and Regulations are of importance to Irish fish workers, be they male or female: National Minimum Wage Act 2000 European Communities (Minimum Safety And Health Requirements For Improved Medical Treatment On Board Vessels) Regulations Parental Leave Act 1998 Organisation Of Working Time Act 1997 Organisation Of Working Time (Code Of Practice On Sunday Working In The Retail Trade And Related Matters) (Declaration) Order 1998 March 2002 MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd page 23