I thank the Deputy for affording me this opportunity to deal with the issue of the European Commission's proposals for fish quotas for 2002. These will be the subject of detailed discussions and negotiations at a meeting of the EU Council of Fisheries Ministers on 17 and 18 December. I am pleased to be able to brief the House on my strategic approach to them.
The European Commission has tabled its proposals for 2002 in light of the scientific recommendations, stock assessments and management advice it has received from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES, advisory committee on fisheries management and the EU scientific, technical and economic committee. The Commission requested the scientific bodies to adopt the precautionary principle in preparing their advice for next year. The precautionary approach provides that uncertainty about, or lack of data on stocks requires the application of very conservative management measures. The Commission has adopted this very conservative scientific advice and in many instances proposes cuts, which go beyond it.
There is widespread concern about the severity of the cuts proposed by the Commission and the fact that they are applied across a very wide range of species. In short, the Commission is trying to apply a much more conservative approach to fisheries management, solely through quota cuts done over one year, irrespective of their impact on the fishing industry. The Commission's approach is to reduce the total allowable catches in accordance with the advice for stocks in need of recovery and to reduce all of the stocks caught with recovery stocks, irrespective of the science on those stocks. In short, the cuts for a whole range of species are driven by the scientific advice on the most vulnerable species.
While it is accepted that the scientific advice on a number of species of interest to Ireland is of concern, it is our view that a more focused series of measures are required to recover the stocks, rather than the blunt instrument of once off quota cuts. Over the past three years, Ireland has led the debate on stock recovery in the EU, based on protecting adult spawning fish during the spawning season and avoiding the catching of young fish. Ireland has negotiated the implementation at EU level of the Irish Sea cod recovery plan, the hake recovery plan off the south and west coasts and the north west cod recovery plan off the Donegal coast.
These plans are showing the way forward but their benefit is not yet feeding through to the science. In our view they are the way to recover stocks rather than the Commission's proposed severe quota cuts, which affect some member states more that others. The Commission's proposed average reductions in total allowable catches is 33% across the broad range of whitefish stocks, with cuts of up to 60% in some species. These cuts would have a disproportionate effect on Ireland because of our small quota entitlements under the Common Fisheries Policy.
The context within which I am working to maximise fishing possibilities for Irish fishermen next year is, therefore, both complex and very difficult. It is not possible or correct to ignore the scientific advice and we must act responsibly to protect the resource into the future. However, this does not mean that the level of cuts proposed by the Commission is justified.
The Minister is working in close partnership with the Irish fishing industry, as acknowledged by the Deputy. The industry has been fully briefed on the scientific advice and on the Commission's proposals and the Minister will work in the Council, with the support of the industry, to negotiate the best possible deal in the circumstances for our fishermen. Our overall objective will be to maximise the fishing possibilities for the Irish fishing industry next year, while ensuring that essential conservation objectives are met through setting prudent and sustainable total allowable catches, which will enable the restoration and viability of stocks.
My Department and the Marine Institute have examined, in detail, the scientific advice for all stocks and the Minister will take their analyses into account in recommending an increase over the Commission's proposal for any particular stock. It is very important to maintain stability for the fishing industry and Ireland is opposed to dramatic fluctuations in total allowable catches. We will, therefore, seek moderate increases or lesser reductions where there is justification on scientific or management grounds.
The Commission should take account of the needs of fishermen as well as the fish stocks. The Minister will approach the issue with the aim of striking the appropriate balance between the conservation imperative and ensuring viable economic opportunities to protect the livelihoods of the fishermen concerned. He will urge his EU colleagues and the Commission to work on striking the right balance. We must secure the future of stocks while providing realistic economic opportunities for the fishing industry next year. The achievement of this balance will be very difficult and the negotiations will be tough and long.
As I have already indicated, the Minister has consulted the representatives of our fishermen on the Commission's proposals. He met the UK Fisheries Minister in London yesterday on matters of mutual concern in negotiations on fisheries quotas for 2002. He is due to meet the Northern Ireland Fisheries Minister, Bríd Rodgers, on similar issues in Dublin tomorrow. He will meet the Belgian Fisheries Minister, who holds the EU presidency, in Brussels on Thursday to outline Ireland's position on the Commission's proposals. In addition, he will put Ireland's concerns to Commissioner Fischler during a high level bilateral meeting, before negotiations commence at the Council.
The agenda for Council is scheduled to include the formal signing off on the EU Norwegian fisheries agreement for 2002. The annual negotiations with Norway are still in progress. However, it is anticipated that the negotiations will result in an increase in the Irish mackerel quota to approximately 73,500 tonnes for 2002. This will be good news for the Irish pelagic fleet. In addition to the proposed quota cuts for traditional species, the Commission has just published a proposal to establish quotas for a wide range of deep water species based on historic catch patterns. These fisheries are new to Ireland and the Commission's proposal based on track record is unacceptable to Ireland as it will reward those who have done most damage to these stocks. There is also clear scientific advice that quotas are not the right way to protect these species.
Finally, international negotiations are taking place between the EU, Norway and the Faroe Islands in Brussels this week on the blue whiting stock. These negotiations may lead to a significant reduction in the European Union's access to this stock. We are working with our fishing industry at these negotiations to seek to minimise the impact on Ireland.
This will be a very tough Council, indeed the toughest Fisheries Council for many years. We do not underestimate the difficult challenges of delivering on our objective to maximise sustainable fishing opportunities for 2002 while ensuring the long-term future of fish stocks in our waters. We will continue liaising very closely with the Irish fishing industry on our negotiating stance. The House can be assured that we will negotiate very hard on these issues and give full commitment to getting the best deal possible next week for the Irish fishing industry.
The Dáil adjourned at 10.30 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 12 December 2001.
