asked the Minister for the Marine if he will resolve the difficulties for fishermen especially in Killybegs, County Donegal, who have virtually exhausted their 1987 quotas for mackerel; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mackerel Quotas.
18.
As the Deputy is aware, the quotas or shares of total allowable catches available to member states are enshrined in the EEC Common Fisheries Policy. Ireland's mackerel quota for 1987 is 79,350 tonnes, of which over 71,000 tonnes have been caught in the early part of the year. Fishing of the balance of the quota commenced at the beginning of this week.
Under exchange arrangements possible under the Common Fisheries Policy it is open to a member state to exchange some of its unused quotas for species in which its quotas fall short of requirements. Negotiations have taken place and indeed are currently ongoing with a number of other member states with a view to securing additional quantities of mackerel for our fishermen. These negotiations are at a very critical stage and I regret that I am not in a position to give further details at present. However, I will be only too glad to advise the Deputy of developments when these negotiations have been concluded.
Since there are only about 7,000 tonnes of mackerel left in this year's quota, I would ask the Minister to explain to me how, having reissued licences in the last few days for the remainder of the year, these fishermen, with over 20 boats fitted to fish for mackerel, will be able to fish within the law until Christmas this year, particularly in Donegal? The Minister also promised to ensure that there would be extra fish for the autumn fishing season. Is the Minister now going to deliver on that to the fishermen of Donegal?
As I indicated, we still have some fish left for the remainder of this season. We are in negotiations with our colleagues in the Community with a view to exchanging mackerel for other fish to ensure that we will have adequate fish stocks to enable the fishermen to continue fishing up to the end of the fishing season. If the Deputy can bear with us for another week or two she will be quite satisfied with the outcome of these discussions. We have also engaged in discussions with the Community with a view to seeking increased allocations for next year in view of the improving stock situation and we are very hopeful that we will be in a position to increase substantially the quota available to Irish fishermen.
Of the 20 possible boats that are fitted to exploit mackerel fishing, how many of them have received licences over the weekend for the 7,000 tonnes that are available. Is the Minister aware that in good weather conditions that is only one day's fishing for the type of trawlers we are talking about? Maybe we could stretch it to a few days, but it is a minimum amount of fish in any case.
All the boats available for fishing mackerel have been issued with licences. We are having ongoing and critical discussion at present with our colleagues in the Community so that we will have a sufficient allocation of fish to enable the fleet to fish successfully for the remainder of the season.
It may be that even as we speak we have exhausted the quota. What does the Minister intend to do to ensure that these fishermen earn their livelihood within the law?
I want to dispose of the other priority questions, mainly in the name of the Deputy in possession, Deputy Avril Doyle. May we have a reply to No. 19 please?