Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Jan 2003

Vol. 560 No. 1

Written Answers. - Fishing Industry.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

152 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which he has impressed upon his EU colleagues, the urgency of the situation facing Irish fishermen and their families; his plans to deal with the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1897/03]

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

547 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the long-term measures he proposes to put in place to address the difficulties being experienced within the fishing industry; and if his attention has been drawn to the effect on other related businesses. [1307/03]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

569 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans to safeguard the future for families and those involved in the fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2147/03]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 152, 547 and 569 together.

The biggest challenge facing the fishing industry and its ancillary businesses at present is in relation to the pressure which many of the key whitefish species are under. The industry accepts that measures must be put in place for the conservation and sustainable exploitation of these stocks. The debate at EU level centres around the appropriate mechanisms for achieving this objective.

The Commission advocates a policy of large-scale restrictions on days at sea leading to decommissioning of fishing vessels. I believe this approach is disproportionate and not the best method to achieve a sustainable exploitation approach to fish stocks. The socio-economic effects of such simplistic policies cannot be ignored and I have consistently stressed to my EU Council colleagues and to Commissioner Fischler the unacceptable socio-economic affects which such policies would have on Irish fishermen and their families. At the December Fisheries Council a restriction of days at sea was introduced as part of a cod recovery plan, on a temporary basis, for part of the fishing grounds off Donegal.

I am aware that this new scheme gives rise to difficulties for particular fishermen using certain gear types. The nine day limit applies only to one gear type and it is possible to fish for a greater number of days each month if certain other gear types are used or without any limit if fishing exclusively outside the area. It is also possible to fish within the area without any limit if using only fishing gears not covered by the regulation. On the basis of an examination of recent log-sheet data, the best estimate is that a total of 24 Donegal based vessels fished in the area concerned with the fishing gear subject to the nine day limit. Ten of these vessels also fished with other fishing gears subject to a 25 day limit. The impact of the regulation will therefore be dependent on the type of gear which vessels elect to use and the area which they choose to fish in.

I have discussed this situation with representatives of the Irish fishing industry on a number of occasions since the Council, and my Department is working closely with the industry to clarify issues about the scheme and the details associated with its implementation. Over the coming months, and in the context of new proposals expected shortly from the Commission on long-term restrictions on fishing effort for recovery plan stocks, I will continue to seek, in respect of stocks in western waters, a more appropriate regime for stock recovery. This regime would involve strong technical conservation measures to protect juvenile fish and adult spawning stock and strong control and enforcement to ensure that recovery plans introduced are implemented in a fair and even handed way across all member states. This approach is generally shared by my colleagues from Greece, France, Spain, Italy and Portugal, in the Friends of Fishing group. I will work to maintain our strategic alliance on such common themes going forward in order to ensure that the recovery plans introduced take account of the need to protect stocks and also take account of the socio economic impact on fishing communities.