Paul Bradford
Question:2 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for the Marine the likely effect of the decision by the EU Fisheries Council to introduce a system of fishing permits.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishing Permits.
As the Deputy is no doubt aware, the new system of fishing permits, to which he refers, was approved by Ministers at the Fisheries Council on 10 June last. The permits regulation adopted is a framework regulation which provides that, for specified fisheries, where there is a limit on access to the fishery, or a limit on the amount of fish which may be caught, fishing vessels operating in the fishery may be required to hold, in addition to their fishing licence, a special authorisation to fish: this is the fishing permit.
I should emphasise that fishing permits will not be automatic, nor will there be a requirement for every boat in every fishery to hold a fishing permit. Rather, the Council of Fisheries Ministers will have to approve, on a case by case basis, the introduction of a permit system for specific fisheries. Moreover, the Council will also have to consider the particular conditions attaching to permits in any given instance.
Ireland has consistently indicated its support for the principle of permits, which we see as an essential element in the control of fisheries and the monitoring of fishing effort in the future.
Our main concerns in the discussions on the proposal have been to ensure a strong role for the coastal or control member state in the monitoring and control of permits; to ensure that permits can be used for the control and monitoring of fishing effort on sensitive stocks and for practical reasons, and to avoid any unnecessary administrative burden, to exempt small boats from the permit obligation.
We have achieved considerable success on these aspects: the flag member state will be required to notify the relevant coastal or control member state, in advance, of the permits issued; the coastal or control member state will have the power to take action against a fishing vessel flying the flag of another member state which fishes in contravention of the conditions of its permit and boats less than ten metres in length, fishing in their own waters, have been exempted from the obligation to hold a permit.
There is, of course, a close linkage between the framework regulation for permits and the review of the Iberian Act of Accession. It is clear that the permits regulation will be used as part of the basis for the forthcoming Commission proposals in regard to the Iberian review. For this reason, it was very important for Ireland that the framework regulation contain firm provisions in regard to control and monitoring of fishing, and this has been achieved.
This decision is in line with the objectives I set out at last April's Council of Ministers meeting when the Council decided to give Spanish vessels greater access to Irish waters. When that decision was taken I told the Council that Ireland would insist on appropriate replacement control measures being applied. This decision on permits constitutes a significant first step in that direction.
Is the basis of the introduction of fishing permits twofold: first, a partial, and certainly inadequate, response to the threat from the marauding Spanish fleet in the coming months and years and, second, a method of controlling the amount of fish caught? Does the problem remain that there are too many boats fishing EU waters? Our fishing industry is losing out due to the failure of the Fisheries Council to deal with this basic problem. What progress is the Minister making at EU level to ensure that some boats will be taken out? Irish boats are not contributing to the problem and we do not have the political power at EU level to ensure that is done. In the long term is that the only solution that will secure the future of the EU, particularly the Irish fishing industry?
I gave a detailed response to the Deputy's question. The permits regulation adopted is a framework regulation. This is the beginning of a process which I undertook to put in place between now and December on the control, regulation and conservation of our fish stocks. I seek to achieve control by the coastal state of sensitive areas within its jurisdiction, that is an area off the south-west and west of the island, of which we would have control, along the same lines as the Shetlands principle. The coastal state there has control over exit and entry of vessels that come within that sensitive zone. The coastal region would have control over permits and the examination of catch and log books. It would have total control over a given zone as designed to replace the 50 mile zone which will remain until 1 January 1996.
Would the Minister agree that boats will have to be taken out as there are too many boats fishing EU waters? What progress is he making at EU level to ensure this is done, bearing in mind that Irish boats are not contributing to the problem?
At the end of the day 20 per cent of the Spanish fleet will have to be taken out under the Common Fisheries Policy, the Iberian Act of Accession and the Multi-Annual Guidance Programme, but that will not solve the problem. On 1 January 1996 Portugal and Spain will have full access to our waters. What I have been seeking to achieve — I have partially succeeded in doing so — is that we would have control over sensitive areas, over the fish stocks that would be in danger from the type of fishing engaged in, particularly by the Spanish.
Has progress been made on the sensitive zone issue?
Progress is being made but the final package will not emerge until the framework regulation is completed at the end of December.