I thank committee members for the invitation to speak to them today. The Cathaoirleach has introduced me, Sinéad McSherry, and my team, Suzanne Brennan and Anna O'Sullivan. The committee has identified quite a number of issues and I will speak briefly to them now, after which we will be happy to discuss any particular items of interest.
The first issue the committee mentioned was an integrated hub for industry. The Department, with the Minister, meets regularly with the industry in the context of specific negotiations and issues. In addition to those meetings, today the Minister hosted a stakeholder meeting on the sustainability impact assessment for fishing opportunities 2025, and as recently as last month we met with the industry at official level on the Government actions to support a national framework agreement between the seafood and ORE sectors. These were very productive meetings. Prior to the intense engagement that took place with industry in recent years in the context of Covid-19 and the seafood task force, the Department has supported a sea-fisheries liaison group. Recently, I have spoken to a number of industry representatives. It is likely an opportune time to resume those meetings of the group quarterly. We will engage with the industry on that.
In respect of the changes caused by Brexit, as the committee knows, the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement has had a significant negative outcome for Ireland's fishing fleet, the wider seafood sector and coastal communities depending on the seafood sector in a number of respects. The Irish fleet has lost access to 15% of its annual quota, mainly affecting pelagic stocks; prawns, or nephrops; and whitefish, such as megrim, monkfish and haddock.
Irish seafood exports to the UK, which were worth €80 million pre-Brexit, have been severely impacted while Irish seafood imports from the UK, worth €219 million pre-Brexit and a key input to the Irish retail and processing supply chain, have been disrupted. Vital seafood export routes, primarily the land bridge via the UK, have been disrupted.
Significant support has been provided for the sector in recent years on foot of the recommendations of the seafood task force and funded under the Brexit adjustment reserve, BAR, with just over €250 million provided to the sector in direct and indirect supports.
The Minister, Deputy McConalogue, continues to pursue opportunities for Ireland to increase fishing opportunities where possible. At the Agriculture and Fisheries Council last December, the Minister secured additional mackerel quota share for Ireland worth approximately €3 million annually. This additional quota share is the first ever increase in mackerel quota.
The Minister has consistently called for the European Commission to fully analyse and report on the impacts of Brexit on the Common Fisheries Policy, CFP, particularly the impact on fishing opportunities as a result of the quota transfers under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Earlier this year, former fisheries Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius announced a commitment to undertake a full evaluation of the CFP. The Minister will consider how Ireland will participate actively and effectively in this evaluation. Supports have been put in place by the seafood development programme. These are schemes that are co-funded by the Exchequer and the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund. These will continue to build on those schemes funded under the BAR, in particular supports for capital investment in seafood processing to support new product development and creating added value, ensuring that maximum use is made of all landings.
On wind farms and marine conservation areas, the process for planning and developing offshore wind capacity in Ireland comes under the remit of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. That Department has engaged with the fishing and seafood sector in the context of preparing the State’s first draft of the designated maritime area plan for offshore renewable energy, ORE. From a fisheries perspective, the Department welcomes the draft plan’s emphasis on maximising opportunities for coexistence between commercial fisheries and ORE, as well as the definition of specific policy objectives to facilitate this. The Department also welcomes the commitments given in respect of continued and regular engagement with fishers and the wider seafood sector during the lifetime of the draft plan. In particular, it welcomes that the draft plan highlights the need for continued engagement with inshore fishers and the owners of smaller fishing vessels, given the limited spatial data available regarding the locations of these operators’ fishing activities. We believe the development of clear guidance by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications for developers regarding the development and implementation of fisheries and aquaculture management and mitigation strategies would be useful and would assist with improving both understanding and confidence in this process.
Our position has consistently been to reiterate the importance of all aspects of the implementation of this draft plan and of future designated maritime area plans being informed by the underpinning principles of avoid, minimise and mitigate, which are set out in the national marine planning framework.
As regards marine conservation areas, there is already an established process in place for managing certain inshore fisheries that are located in Natura sites. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is in the process of preparing the marine protected areas Bill. However, this Bill has not yet been published. As a result, it is not possible to comment further.
On actions to mitigate the volatility of the Irish fleet, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES, scientific advice is the basis for setting total allowable catches, TACs. While there is improvement in the state of many stocks, some fish stocks are still in a vulnerable state. Ireland is fully supportive of following the scientific advice when configuring TACs on the basis of this advice. However, the Minister has always taken a strong position on not accepting reductions in excess of the ICES advice and making fully use of maximum sustainable yield ranges where possible.
ICES has advised zero catches for some stocks. As these stocks occur in mixed fisheries, setting the TAC at zero would close the entire fishery, even for the stocks with positive advice. Therefore, it is necessary to find a balance between the potential for severe socioeconomic impacts and the need to achieve good environmental status for stocks. In such cases, bycatch-only TACs have been set to prevent a choke situation in mixed fisheries while also minimising the pressure on the stock to help support its recovery.
The next item on the committee's agenda is the upcoming negotiations with Norway. The Minister has repeatedly raised concerns regarding Norway’s actions in setting excessive and unsustainable mackerel quotas and the need for the EU to take action to protect this important stock. The recent ICES advice for mackerel for a 20% reduction compared with last year highlights the need for the coastal state parties to reach comprehensive sharing agreements to protect this important stock.
The Minister has been clear on the need for the EU to adopt a strong position to protect our shared stocks. The Commission recently published a proposal to amend the 2012 regulation on measures to address unsustainable fishing of shared stocks by non-EU countries. This is a welcome step that underlines the EU’s commitment to the sustainable management of fish stocks.
The next item is schemes for fishers, supports for fishing businesses in rural areas and a sustainable funding model for industry. The Minister has announced the opening of eight schemes in recent months, of which six support the Irish fleet directly. Three of these specifically support the inshore fleet. These schemes are developed and provided under the seafood development programme. The European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, EMFAF, and related Exchequer co-funding is the primary funding package for the Irish fleet and the commercial seafood sector. In addition to the schemes designed to support producers and processors directly, supports will also be provided for community-led local development implemented by the fisheries local action groups, FLAGs, to support economic diversification. This continues the funding provided under the Brexit blue economy enterprise development scheme and the FLAGs scheme under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, EMFF.
On inshore fleet access to pelagic stocks and the hook-and-line mackerel fishery, the management arrangements for the State’s fisheries, including the mackerel fishery, have been set and developed over many years since the commencement of the Common Fisheries Policy and the introduction of quotas. Pelagic stocks such as mackerel are managed on an annual or seasonal basis, with catch limits set based on allocation regimes developed over many years and related to historical catch records. Amendments to the mackerel policy in 2010 and 2017 were introduced following a full review and public consultation. The 2017 policy is currently subject to a legal challenge in the courts.
The allocation of 400 tonnes for a fishery for vessels under 15 m in length overall fishing exclusively by means of hook and line was set down in policy in 2010. In order to amend mackerel policy, the Minister must be satisfied that there is satisfactory evidence of changed circumstances to justify a policy review. If the Minister were to consider there is a case for review of any aspect of the policy, it would require due process, involving an assessment of all issues arising, including a full public consultation.
In Ireland, fishing quota is a public resource and is managed to provide for proper management, conservation and rational use of the State’s fishing quotas. It is managed as a public good which ensures that property rights are not granted to individual operators. The result of this long-standing policy is that the Irish fishing fleet involves a balanced spread of sizes and types of fishing vessels which have retained a strong economic link with coastal communities. Ireland’s fish quota management system is designed to ensure the best possible spread, both between fishing vessel operators and in terms of take-up of quota throughout the year, having regard to fishing patterns and market conditions.
On shellfish markets, while there was a downturn in shellfish exports in the latter half of 2023, which was partially offset by price growth, overall value of shellfish exports in 2023 was down. Indications are that market conditions are improving. There is no doubt that shellfish producers are facing ongoing biological, economic and competitive pressures that will require strategic adjustments to ensure long-term viability. It is important to recognise that trading conditions in EU markets are affected by EU policy regarding seafood imports from non-EU countries that are not subject to the same environmental and social standards as EU seafood producers, and there is a need for the EU to ensure that market policy supports a level playing field for EU seafood producers.
I hope this information has been helpful. Ms Brennan, Ms O'Sullivan and I will be happy to take any questions members have.
