asked the Minister for the Marine the action he is taking to re-open the mackerel and herring fisheries; if he is pursuing negotiations to increase this year's total allowable catch; or if quota swaps with other EC member states can be arranged.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mackerel/Herring Quotas.
4.
I would like to assure the Deputy that prior to and since the closure of these fisheries I have been exploring all possible means of obtaining additional catch possibilities. At my direction discussions were held with EC Commission officials. Also this week in Brussels I raised this matter during the course of the Fisheries Council. In my intervention I emphasised the present difficult position of both the catching and processing sectors involved in the pelagic fishery. I made a strong plea to the Commission and to other member states to facilitate this country through the arrangement of appropriate swaps.
In addition, I took the opportunity of having direct bilateral contacts with a number of my European counterparts on the question of quota swaps. In particular I approached my UK and German counterparts and explored possible arrangements with them. In the course of pursuing these various possibilities the views of the industry were taken fully into account.
At this stage, because of the high rate of utilisation among member states of the particular quotas concerned and other factors, it seems unlikely that any substantial additional fishing opportunities can be obtained for the remainder of this year. I am, however, still pursuing a number of possibilities.
Moreover, in the light of my discussions at Brussels and the latest scientific assessments of these stocks now available, I will be pressing very strongly for increased quotas for Ireland for next year at the December Fisheries Council.
The time for dealing with priority questions is nearly exhausted. I should dearly wish to dispose of Question No. 5 also if Deputy Taylor-Quinn will facilitate me in brief supplementaries now.
Is the Minister aware of the serious problem that has arisen, particularly in Killybegs, as a result of the extraordinarily early closure of the mackerel fishery this year? Hundreds of people are becoming unemployed. There is a very bleak winter and Christmas facing those people. Some of them face emigration and many families face disaster. While I appreciate the Minister's attempts to secure quota stocks from the UK and Germany, is there any possibility at all that he could secure an additional quota outside of the quotas arranged for 1989 from the EC Commission because what was secured last year was absolutely disgraceful and now we are seeing the dire results of the negotiations that were held last December.
I had hoped for brevity. I am not receiving it.
This is a disastrous situation particularly in Killybegs. Can the Minister give any greater hope to the people and the processors of that area than he has given in his earlier reply?
This is a very serious matter indeed. I want to tell the House that 69,280 tonnes of mackerel were caught, a tribute to fishermen and their industry. Unfortunately they had exhausted the quota which was 10,000 tonnes less than the year before and this has meant considerable stress in the area. The total allowable catch is decided on scientific grounds and the total allowable catch decides how much of a quota we get. We get 21 per cent of the total allowable catch and if the total allowable catch is set low, on scientific advice, what we get by way of quota is less. It has nothing at all to do with the strength of the negotiators at the last Council meeting. It has a lot to do with supply of stock and the supply of stock is decided by the scientific advisers.
The time available for dealing with priority questions is now exhausted. I am proceeding to deal with other questions.