Brian O'Shea
Question:150 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources his proposals to protect and control the whiting quota (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3224/02]
Written Answers. - Fish Quotas.
At the December Fisheries Council I secured agreement to a national whiting quota of 8,814 tonnes in the Celtic Sea for 2002. This represents a 51% increase over 2001 and delivers enhanced fishing possibilities for Irish fishermen this year.
My Department liases regularly with the Irish fishing industry in relation on the management of available quotas. The aim is to ensure the best possible spread in terms of take-up of quota during the year, having regard to fishing patterns and market conditions. The key objective is to avoid early closure of fisheries through premature exhaustion of quota.
My Department held discussions with the industry last month on the management options for the various fisheries, including the Celtic Sea whiting fishery. The Department proposed that the fishery should be the subject of a specific management regime in order to minimise the potential for market over-supply of whiting, and resulting poor prices, in the early months of the year. I have recently decided to implement for the month of February a 21 tonne catch limitation for seiners and a 15 tonnes catch limitation for trawlers, replacing the 12 and six tonne catch limitations which were in place for January. The regime in place for February represents a prudent balance between catching opportunities for the supply side and market trends on the demand side. The fishery and market conditions will be kept under close review in consultation with the industry and subsequent management regimes will continue to have full regard for all the relevant factors.