asked the Minister for the Marine if he considers the present herring quota for 1988-89 adequate for the proper development of the industry; and the submissions that have been forwarded from his Department to the EC for an increase of quota for future years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Herring Quota.
31.
I am satisfied that the herring quotas secured after very difficult negotiations at the Council of Ministers last December allow for the continuing development of the fishing industry here. Officials from my Department have raised my concerns with the Commission and participated to the fullest extent possible in the deliberations of the international scientific organisations whose advice will form the basis of the Commission's proposals on total allowable catches and quotas for 1989. These proposals are, however, not yet available. The position of the industry within the constraints of quota is being addressed by strengthened management arrangements worked out in consultation with industry. The Deputy can be assured that I will be pressing at the negotiations in Brussels in December for the maximum quotas possible for our fishermen.
Given the Governments record in relation to securing quotas and the tonnage in total allowable catches, what future is there for the herring industry? I should like a very clear indication of the position of those involved in herring fishing. How will the plans proposed yesterday by BIM fit into this proposed development in view of the fact that there are very strict limitations on the amount of fish that can be caught? How can this great development take place when restrictions have been imposed by the EC because of the lack of effectiveness by our Government in negotiations at EC level?
I will deal with the question of records first. I am sure the Deputy is aware of the record placed before us in March 1987 on coming into Government when there was a quota of 80,000 tonnes of mackerel, 73,000 tonnes had been caught because it was an election year and the Minister for Labour had resigned. In a six-week period, 73,000 tonnes were caught, some of the fish were processed in this country but too many went aboard luggers to be processed in Comecon countries.
I did not ask for an historical analysis.
I have to set the record straight. We were left with a total allowable catch of 7,000 tonnes, we travelled to the various capitals of Europe and secured sufficient quotas up to December of last year. We commenced this year with 80,000 tonnes and 97 per cent or 98 per cent were sold at premium prices and the rest provided job creation in the area. We managed matters so well that the fishing closed naturally in May and we had 23,000 tonnes left for the rest of the year. Unfortunately, we did not reach Deputy McGinley's question which suggested that the early opening of mackerel fishing was a sick joke. However the people in the fishing industry did not think it was a sick joke when £500,000 of mackerel was landed last week and mackerel to the value of £500,000 this week. That is far from a sick joke in deprived areas in the west. I appreciate that Deputies are not familiar with the details of yesterday's launch but they will receive a copy of the details this evening.
We are aware that there is a wide range of fish——
We will talk about specifics. We are talking about non-quota species, horse mackerel, scad, and blue whiting for which there was a tremendous market in Japan last year. However, this has been a difficult year in regard to quality and quantity in horse mackerel and we have no control over this. Strenuous efforts are being made to find a market for blue whiting but, in the meantime, it is achieving very high prices on the Continent. We are trying to assist young fishermen to purchase new white fish boats. It is wrong to suggest that the constraints here would effect yesterday's plan. The whole secret in relation to the fisheries is its management. This is not just a theory. We have seen it in practice last year and this year. Nothing will deter us from taking an overall view of the situation. We will have discussions with the industry, including the processors, the producers, the Department and representatives of the various POs and fishermen's organisations. If it is necessary, we will not be deterred from taking steps to ensure that there is no indiscriminate fishing for fishmeal purposes and that the fish will be taken ashore and value added. We had a difficult time this year. There will never be a repeat of what we had in the past, with herrings being landed indiscriminately for fishmeal purposes. All of these fish will be landed for productive purposes and for job creation.
Does the Minister not agree that in the final analysis the livelihood of most fishermen depends on the amount of fish they catch, and the fishermen in the Celtic Sea have been very seriously restricted? What action does he intend taking in relation to herring fishing here? The Minister has not answered the question.
We cannot debate this matter today. I want to deal with the final question.
I would be pleased to give the facts about the Celtic Sea. At the Council meeting in December of last year the quota for the Celtic Sea was 11,240 tonnes. We had bilateral discussions with the Commission. We proposed closing the area around the Blaskets for two weeks for conservation purposes this year, the area south of Cobh and Ballycotton for two weeks next year and the area off Dunmore East which is traditionally known as Baginbun for two weeks. This indicates our commitment to that area and as a result, we secured an additional 4,220 tonnes which is no mean achievement particularly during these weeks when the fish in the Celtic Sea are going for £12 to £13 per box.
Why did the Minister not spend the £8,000 needed to complete the survey?