Vol. 514 No. 2
52 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which Irish fishing interests are protected in the context of the recent EU fisheries policy review with particular reference to the need to ensure adequate catch in the future, notwithstanding the competition from other EU sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3738/00]
The national CFP strategy review group has been set up to inform and assist Ireland's negotiating strategy for the 2002 review of the Common Fisheries Policy. The group, which is representative of all relevant interests, is undertaking a comprehensive examination of the CFP and its impact on Ireland. The group will report to me on strategy and policy recommendations by the middle of this year.
The work of the strategy review group will inform discussions on Ireland's priorities with the Commission in advance of the Commission finalising its own position and our overall negotiating position up to and during the review in 2002.
53 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting with Fishery Ministers in December 1999 and particularly the impact of the proposed cuts in the allowable catches of key whitefish stocks on the Irish fishing fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3640/00]
The Council of Fisheries Ministers, last December, agreed, among other matters, the total allowable catches for the year 2000, fisheries control and monitoring measures within the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission area and a number of technical conservation measures for the protection of juvenile fish.
The package of TACs proposed by the Commission for 2000 included a number of stringent reductions over 1999 levels. These proposals were informed by scientific advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas and management advice provided by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries. There are serious concerns about the state of certain stocks, including key whitefish stocks fished by the Irish fleet, and in these cases substantial quota reductions of up to 40% were proposed by the Commission.
These severe cuts were scaled down during marathon talks and the Council agreed to less substantial cuts totalling 19.5% by volume over 30 demersal species. This more balanced incremental approach to reducing fishing mortality over a number of years, rather than the Commission's hard-line approach of wholesale once off cuts, was favoured by the Council. The scientific advice, however, on many whitefish stocks was too bleak to be ignored. We have a responsibility to ensure that the long-term future of the resource was protected taking into account the economic needs of the fishing industry. Following the political agreement at Council, a recovery plan for Irish Sea cod has been negotiated with the support of the industry which will be further augmented during the year.
The outlook for Ireland's pelagic fishermen following the quota negotiations was positive. Quota levels are down just over 2% by volume on 1999. A 17% increase in Ireland's mackerel quota was secured and our blue whiting share increased by 2,000 tonnes.
