Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 22 Jun 1995

Vol. 454 No. 8

Written Answers. - Pelagic Fleet.

Peadar Clohessy

Question:

30 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for the Marine if he will reconcile the figure of 20,905 GRT given by his Department as the tonnage of the pelagic fleet on 1 January 1992 with the target of 19,500 tonnes for 31 December 1996 and the fact that he informed Dáil Éireann that the present tonnage of the pelagic fleet is 18,668.6 tonnes in view of the fact that he has indicated that the Veronica required an extra 1,178 tonnes, the Sheanne and the Paula an extra 700 tonnes, the lengthened Áine an extra 60 tonnes, the replacements for the Brendeleen and the Father McKee, provided they are sold outside the country, another 250 tonnes; and the basis on which it is estimated that 4,425 GRT has been removed from the pelagic fleet in the past two years. [11494/95]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Barrett)

Under European Union fleet policy the capacities of member states' fishing fleets are constrained by decisions taken in the context of multi-annual guidance programmes which set tonnage targets overall and for individual fleet segments.

In Ireland's case, the programme set an overall target of 51,000 tonnes with individual targets for the following four fleet segments: pelagic; Irish Sea demersal; West Coast demersal; and beam trawler.

A target of 19,500 tonnes was set for the pelagic segment of the fleet. This reflected the fact that the fishing activities of a large number of Irish boats were appropriate to more than one fleet segment. Dryhold pelagic vessels which fish for herring and mackerel during the winter and spring also fish for demersal species during the remainder of the year. In calculating the capacity appropriate to each segment these vessels were divided proportionately between the pelagic and demersal fleet segments.

In January 1992 the actual tonnage of the pelagic segment of the fleet was assessed at 20,905 tonnes. This figure included the Refrigerated Salt Water — RSW — tank boats, which are dedicated pelagic boats, and the appropriate proportion of the mixed dryhold pelagic — whitefish fleet.

In the mid-term review of the programme between Ireland and the Commission last year the overall fleet target remained unchanged for Ireland. However, the Commission agreed to reduce the number of fleet segments to three which more accurately reflects the mix within the fleet: beam trawler; pelagic; polyvalent — or multi purpose.

The new polyvalent segment includes all whitefish vessels and other multipurpose vessels such as dry-hold pelagic vessels. Consequently, the pelagic segment now comprises RSW pelagic tank boats only. The current tonnage within this segment stands at 18,668 tonnes. With the planned introduction of the remaining three new tank boats later this year, the tonnage figure is set to increase to 19,500, which is in line with the programme target for end 1996. We have therefore, in practice, reached the target for the pelagic segment. Consequently all future proposals to introduce new tank boats will only be considered on the basis of 100 per cent tonnage replacement from within the pelagic fleet.