The House will now hear a two minute statement from Deputy Deasy addressed to the Minister for the Marine.
Adjournment Debate. - Marine Matter.
I wish to refer to the announcement last week by the Minister for the Marine that the Celtic Sea fishery for herring is now open and that a quota of 10,000 tonnes of herring may be taken from that fishery. I raise the matter in the House because of what happened in 1990.
There are two sectors in the Celtic Sea fishery, the western sector and the eastern sector. During October and November approximately — one cannot definitely predict when and how the shoals will move — the western sector is fished and during December, January and possibly February, the eastern sector is fished. In 1990 the fishery was not properly managed by the then Minister and his Department. As a result, all of the 10,000 tonnes of herring were fished in the western sector and no fishing was allowed in the eastern sector during December, January and February. As a result, the Dunmore East fishery, which basically is the eastern sector, received no quota whatsoever and there was a loss of several million pounds to the economy in the Dunmore East region. This did not involve just fishermen but also several hundred shore workers and the local business community.
The Minister may not be aware that what happened in 1990 could happen in 1992. I am asking the Minister to divide equally the quota between the western sector and the eastern sector so that 5,000 tonnes of herring are fished in each sector. This was done in 1991 as a result of our protestations in this House following the calamity of 1990. I should like the Minister of State to bring to the attention of the Minister for the Marine, Deputy Woods, the situation which could arise again and to ensure that the catch in the western sector is carefully monitored so that no more than 5,000 tonnes is fished and that the other 5,000 tonnes is reserved for the eastern sector.
I apologise to Deputy Deasy and to the House for the absence of the Minister of State at the Department of the Marine, Deputy Gallagher, who has another official engagement. I might say initially to Deputy Deasy that I listened carefully to the very concerned manner in which he raised this issue, I can reassure him that I will bring the views he has expressed to the Minister's attention.
I hope that the reply I have will be of some help in addressing the important matter Deputy Deasy has raised here this afternoon.
The Celtic Sea fishery opened on Sunday, 4 October last. There are almost 10,000 tonnes of herring remaining to be caught between now and the end of the year.
The Minister's priority in drawing up a management plan is to ensure that available quota is spread as uniformly as possible throughout the herring spawning season while at the same time, maximising employment potential and economic return to the fishing and processing sectors alike.
The Minister is acutely aware of the importance of this extremely valuable fishery to the 600 fisherman and 1,000 people employed in processing the fruits of their efforts. For that reason, and because of the importance of protecting the wellbeing of our future herring stocks, it is vital that maximum protection be given to spawning fish. The fishery, which is essentially a roe fishery at present, may be divided into two distinct parts from a spawning viewpoint. First, the western part, which stretches from Dingle to Cork harbour, is an autumn fishery where usually roe is suitable for commercial exploitation from October to December. The eastern part from Cork Harbour to Dunmore East is a winter/spring fishery, with roe normally being at its peak in commercial terms from December into the early New Year periods.
The quota is divided between the winter/spring fishery and the autumn fishery to ensure that spawning stock are afforded the best possible protection and to guarantee that an equitable portion of the quota is caught by fishermen in each part of the fishery.
This year already there is evidence of some herring in the eastern sector. The port of Dunmore East has been opened to allow fishermen and processors to take advantage of this early boon. The industry has been assured that for the remainder of the season, either Cobh or Dunmore East will remain open, thus ensuring a constant outlet to fishermen in the eastern sector.
I might add that the Celtic Sea fishery has been carefully nurtured from being a vastly depleted fishery during the seventies to the major employment source it is to-day. This has been brought about through intensive, carefully planned management regimes, using all available scientific and technical expertise, together with comprehensive control and monitoring by the Minister's Department. It is the Minister's intention to continue on this road and ensure the continuance of this vital lifeline to the coastal communities concerned.
The Dáil adjourned at 5.35 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Friday, 9 October 1992.