As I indicated in my reply to Question No. 114 on 9 October last, I expect to receive the main report of the Sea-Fishing Boat Licensing Policy Review Group early next year. A key factor concerning its deliberations and the timing of its report will be the outcome of the re-negotiation of the EU Common Fisheries Policy now under way.
The review group can decide to report earlier on separate issues on which it may consider that urgent decisions are required of me. One such issue is in relation to the current requirement for certain polyvalent fishing vessels to have fished for herring and-or mackerel for 16 weeks in the previous four years in order to be considered to have "active pelagic" capacity. I have agreed to an urgent interim recommendation from the review group that a moratorium on active pelagic track record be put in place in respect of 2002. This measure stems from the need to take account of particular circumstances which have arisen in 2002 in relation to the Celtic Sea herring fishery, mainly regarding stock conservation, but it has general application to all pelagic fisheries for polyvalent boats. The moratorium means that polyvalent boats which did not fish for herring and-or mackerel in 2002 will not be considered as having had a break in their active pelagic track record.
For replacement capacity purposes, polyvalent boat owners may have 2002 excluded from the determination of active pelagic history, that is 16 weeks in each of the last four years, for their boats. For example, boats must have had an active pelagic history in the four preceding years, 1998 to 2001, in order to be considered to be active pelagic capacity for replacement capacity purposes in 2003.
The review group proposes to comprehensively examine the active pelagic policy requirement, along with all other pelagic related issues, and revert to me with their considered recommendations in due course.