Vol. 530 No. 2
2 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the effect the agreed EU fish quotas will have on fishermen here; the persons or body that will monitor the new quotas; and if compensation will be paid to take account of a reduction in earnings. [1000/01]
Taken together, the outcome of the EU-Norway negotiations and the Fisheries Council on quotas for 2001 was satisfactory from our viewpoint and should enable the industry to operate without significant financial loss this year.
Total fishing opportunities across all sectors of the fishing industry have decreased marginally. Quotas for pelagic species such as mackerel, blue whiting and herring have increased by some 4,500 tonnes over last year. The aggregate quotas for traditional whitefish species are approximately 6,000 tonnes less than levels in 2000. However, a new significant quota of over 3000 tonnes for albacore tuna was also secured at Council. This overall outcome should cushion any financial loss for the fishing industry, particularly given the pricing indicators for this year. The global 16% cuts in traditional whitefish quotas are considerably more moderate than the opening Commission proposal for an unprecedented reduction of 36% which would have reduced the value of Irish landings by some £40 million.
It is the case that a number of key whitefish stocks are in crisis. The scientific advice cannot be ignored. However, the Commission's drastic reductions in quotas for a number of species were moderated and linked to the introduction of targeted hake and cod recovery plans. These recovery plans are designed to conserve and rebuild these stocks and the detailed plans are now under negotiation in full consultation with fishermen. Measures under discussion include increased mesh sizes, better selectivity and closed areas. I am pleased that the Council backed my view that a range of responsible conservation measures is essential as opposed to the one dimensional approach of cutting quotas.
The general year-on-year variations in TACs and quotas are an integral part of the management of fish stocks under the Common Fisheries Policy. The TAC and quota system together with EU conservation and control regulations are designed to ensure that catch levels are in balance with the state of stocks. Financial compensation has never been paid in relation to annual fluctuations of TACs and quotas. Onshore control and monitoring of quota and all other conservation measures is carried out by the sea fishery officers of my Department. Seagoing enforcement is car ried out by the Naval Service and the Air Corps. I have made it clear to the Commission and EU colleagues that enforcement must be applied consistently and across the board throughout the EU.
I was pleased to learn that the Commissioner accepted our case. Since I tabled the question, news reports indicate that the new regulations have been well received within the industry. What plans does the Department have in regard to deep water stocks and how will it encourage fishermen to fish these species? Will the Minister outline the outcome of the meeting with his opposite number, Swedish Minister, Margareta Winberg, given that Sweden will shortly take over the EU Presidency?
I thank the Deputy for his comments on the outcome of the negotiations. Even though the worst effects of the original cuts were avoided, fishermen, particularly those in the white fish sector, will have a difficult year. My discussion with the incoming Swedish Presidency of the Council ranged over a number of initiatives which it wishes to take this year. It is putting major emphasis on fishing and the environment and is particularly interested in pursuing conservation policies which very much link with the type of initiatives we are taking. At the meeting in Dublin some weeks ago we outlined to the Swedish Minister our proposals on the closing of spawning areas, the increase in mesh sizes and a new approach in EU policy to conservation as opposed to TACs and quotas. This meets the objectives of the Swedish Presidency.
We also pointed out the fundamental economic and socio-economic questions for small fishing communities who depend on the industry for their livelihood and the need for these to always be balanced against the demands of some interests on environmental issues.
3 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources his views on whether fishermen will incur substantial financial losses as a result of the Fisheries Council meeting in Brussels on 14 December 2000, when the total allowable catches for cod and whiting in the North Sea and in the west of Scotland as well as the northern hake stocks were drastically reduced for 2001; and if he proposes to compensate fishermen for the resultant loss of income. [3486/01]
The fish quotas for 2001 negotiated at the December Council of Fisheries Ministers will not lead to significant financial losses for the fishing industry taken overall. The total fishing opportunities are slightly reduced across all sectors of the fishing industry. Quotas for pelagic species have increased by 4,500 tonnes over last year, while whitefish quotas are down by approximately 6,000 tonnes.
The European Commission proposed cuts in whitefish quotas ranging from 50% for whiting to more than 60% for cod and haddock and 75% for hake. The scientific advice pointed to the need for action but did not justify such large scale cuts across the board. I successfully argued for a phased approach to reducing fishing mortality, as opposed to drastic once off cuts. We achieved the necessary balance between the conservation imperative and maintaining realistic opportunities for the fishing industry.
The fact remains, however, that many key whitefish stocks are in crisis and the phased approach to catch reductions has been linked to the implementation of targeted recovery programmes to conserve and rebuild cod and hake stocks. Compensation for annual fluctuations in TACs and quotas is not on the cards. I again emphasise that the reductions in volume for certain whitefish species are likely to be offset by overall opportunities and increased value. Quality control is a critical development challenge in a scenario of tight supply. The key objective for the industry, therefore, is to enhance efficiency and maximise quality and value. The necessary supporting measures will be available to assist the industry to adapt and modernise.
I would like to be associated with the progress made on the conservation issues. People I met have said that all the fishing interests believe this is a step in the right direction. However, I have been told – now that the Minister has given the figures I can visualise this – that the fishermen who made most of their living from cod, whiting and hake will have a particularly bad year. I accept the points made by the Minister about stocks, but if the overall take on an already extremely low level is reduced by 16% obviously many of these fishermen will be put out of business. The Minister said there were other types of fishing, for example, tuna fishing. However, this is limited and some fishermen will not be able to do it.
Against this background, I want to ask a legitimate question. Will the Minister outline, in so far as anyone can determine this, how he believes fish prices will go for the rest of the year? Obviously the value of the fish has much to do with this. Some of the people in the fishing industry with whom I have spoken are extremely worried about this aspect. They believe they are carrying the can unduly in the sense that they do not genuinely believe other fleets will be subjected to the same scrutiny as their fleet. This brings us back to the old story of how the industry is overseen.
There is no question that the cuts in quotas will have a negative effect on all fishermen in the white fish sector. However, I think there is a realisation among fishermen that there are not many options. If the stocks continued to be fished in a quick space of time there would be no stocks of hake and cod, which have become most precarious. There is no doubt that the conservation measures which have been agreed for the first time will bring pain. If we reach agreement on closing spawning areas for key periods during the summer this will put additional pressures on fishermen. There is an acceptance in the industry around the coast, particularly in the south east which is our most significant white fish area, that it was the fishermen and their organisations who called for strong conservation measures to be implemented in the knowledge that if this was not done the stocks would deteriorate to a point where there would be no industry.
We have tried to make up for some of the losses through a variety of schemes and to deal with a number of difficulties in the industry. We will continue to work closely with the industry to achieve the objective of ensuring a livelihood for fishermen which can sustain them.
Is the Minister satisfied, following the Council meeting last December, that the protection system and surveillance will be stepped up on big fleets, those that almost put the fear of God in our hearts? Can the Minister give an undertaking that surveillance on the bigger fishing fleets, the fleets Irish fishermen are scared of, will be better than in the past? This must be fair and apply equally to all our European partners. If our fishermen are taking great pain, they should know that others are taking their fair share of the burden.
I have discussed with our counterparts in the Department of Defence and the Navy the need for fairness to be applied across the spectrum in implementing control measures, and for all fishing fleets to be treated on the basis of a level playing pitch. I am satisfied that is happening, although it is often charged that Irish fishermen are targeted more than others. Recently I again asked the Navy to ensure that does not happen.
