Vol. 571 No. 4
363 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which he proposes in the future to influence the European fisheries policy, with particular reference to conservation of stocks and the continued access to fishing grounds for Irish fishermen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22403/03]
Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy was completed last December and the agreement reached in that context provides the legislative framework for the fisheries policies to be implemented by the EU over the next ten years. The reformed CFP contains a heavy emphasis on the need to conserve fish stocks, an issue which was a high priority for Ireland in the CFP reform negotiations. In particular, recovery plans are signalled for a number of key whitefish stocks such as cod. Against this legal backdrop, a number of implementing regulations, outlining detailed conservation measures and stock recovery programmes, will emerge in the period ahead. In the context of the discussions that will arise when such proposals are being considered, Ireland will seek to influence the direction and scope of such measures in a way that will achieve effective results. In this regard, specific priorities for Ireland will be the need to protect spawning grounds and areas where juveniles aggregate.
In so far as access to fishing grounds is concerned, Irish fishermen will be able to continue to fish in the same grounds as at present. These fishing grounds are located in discrete management areas which have been determined according to the biology of the species concerned.
