Muireann Kavanagh

 “To me, it seems the EU’s idea of a sustainable fishery is wrong. Their idea is to allow factory boats with large diesel engines and huge nets which are causing serious damage to the environment, and more importantly to the fish stocks. Compare that to my small fishing boat with a small engine and 6 hooks on a line that you can hold in one hand. Can someone please explain to me which fishing method is more detrimental to the environment and fish stocks?”

Muireann Kavanagh is a 16-year-old fisherwoman from Arranmore Island, Donegal, Ireland and a passionate advocate for Ireland’s island fishing communities. Fishing traditional hook-and-line pollack with her family, she became a national voice after challenging the EU’s zero-catch policy. She is a member of the Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation (IIMRO), a representative cooperative and small-scale fishery producer organisation. IIMRO engages stakeholders in the marine sector across Ireland’s offshore islands, ensuring they play a central role in the sustainable management of their marine resources