I should first of all like to thank Senators who expressed good wishes to me on my appointment as Minister for Fisheries and I will always be available to give assistance on the various issues referred to. I am grateful for the very useful suggestions expressed on both sides. This Bill has given me the opportunity to get the views of Members of both Houses who have detailed practical knowledge and experience of the fishing industry and who have a valuable contribution to make. I will always be grateful for those views.
A number of very important areas were touched upon and I will try to deal with them as quickly as possible. Senator Fitzgerald spoke of the issue of salmon licences and the difficulties that are being experienced by fishermen in getting drift net licences, particularly, in various parts of the country. I understand that in the past there may have been an imbalance in the way in which licences were issued because various boards of conservators issued licences without taking an overall national view of the situation. With the emergence of the Central Fisheries Board and the restructured regional boards, it will be possible in the future to get an overall view of the national scene in relation to the issue of salmon drift net licences.
Bearing in mind that a decline has taken place in salmon stocks year after year, measures will have to be taken to halt that decline. It is recognised and well known that the commercial nets that are being operated around the coasts are taking the major proportion of the salmon catches and I, on my appointment, spoke to the manager of each of the regional boards. I pointed out to them the importance of the strictest enforcement of conservation measures in relation to salmon drift net fishing. It is my hope that in as far as it is possible the issue of drift net licences will be curtailed. We will endeavour to do this, at the same time bearing in mind that in certain areas there has been a tradition of and a long standing livelihood enjoyed by people involved in drift net fishing. As far as possible, we should endeavour to facilitate those people who have been traditionally engaged in salmon fishing, depending on it for a livelihood. Keeping all this in mind the total number of drift net licences issued, assuming that there may be imbalances from region to region, will not be increased in the future.
Anyone engaged in the fishing industry will realise that we cannot continuously fish out our valuable national salmon resource or allow a situation to continue through which the stocks of salmon are declining year after year. We have to deal with it through conservation measures at home and through the European Community, in so far as they can help. Any effort the Community can make to curtail activities of people outside of our jurisdiction will be welcomed. Through the Community we have succeeded in curtailing the fishing activities for salmon on the high seas by having restrictions imposed which will be operated by the Community on the catches of salmon by Greenland, and in particular the Faroe Islands.
Many fishermen here have been concerned that a trend in recent years has developed whereby fishermen, especially in the Faroe Islands, who were not engaged in salmon fishing have engaged in that activity. Because this is damaging stocks of salmon which were reared here, and are therefore our salmon, I believe we have an obligation to seek Community aid to have this restricted in so far as it is possible to do it. Restrictions have been brought in by the curtailment of the tonnage which the Faroese are allowed to catch. We have to monitor this very carefully to ensure that their substantially reduced quotas will be complied with. I am keeping in close communication with the Community and with outside interests who are involved with salmon fishing in the Faroes to see that the restrictions imposed there by the Community will be maintained.
In relation to salmon protection generally, there has been concern by many people at a work to rule which has been going on in the past few weeks because of the disagreement between the regional boards and the staff. I am happy to be able to announce that that dispute has been resolved and that normal working is about to be resumed.
There were comments on the negotiations taking place on the common fisheries policy. It is well known that these negotiations have been taking place for a long number of years, and on occasion people felt agreement was near, but for one reason or another agreement was not reached. As I said earlier today, I see the emergence of a common fisheries policy as being central to and the cornerstone of future development in the Irish fishing industry. I have been in Brussels this week at the Council meeting, but regretfully not much progress was made. Nevertheless, another Council meeting has been arranged for 22 July, and a high level working party of the Community are engaged in discussions leading up to that Council meeting. Some of the minor details which make up the policy, which are important to us, have been agreed upon and are more or less being held in abeyance pending the resolution of the major problems, which will be the access question and the question of the various quotas and total allowable catches. I think we can get agreement on these points at the next Council meeting and we will have the basis of a policy which will be satisfactory from our point of view and which will enable the industry to consolidate its position and to expand and develop in the future.
We have a basis for negotiation on the proposals which are on the table, a basis on which we can make some further progress, but I would like to give some details of the proposal we have in relation to the limits. The proposal provides for the freezing or the non-user of some of the rights which member states enjoy in our six to 12-mile zone. They do not intend or wish to give up these additional and historic rights. Under the proposal before the Council, some of those rights will be frozen and will be subject to further debate; the proposal is designed to reduce the rights being enjoyed by the UK on the west and south coasts and by Belgium on the west, south-east and the east coasts and by the French on the north and north-west coasts; by Germany and the Netherlands on the south and east coasts. It would also eliminate the rights granted on the south and east coasts for Denmark, which was given in the Treaty of Accession to the European Community. It is not clear whether we will be able to maintain this position, but we will be endeavouring to maintain this position and we will seek extensions in other areas. We would have an exclusive 12-mile zone between Erris Head in Mayo and Lough Foyle. It would be an exclusive 12-mile area.
This would mean that the French who have had traditional rights there would be freezing their rights. It would give the area north-west of Killybegs an exclusive 12-mile zone which is a far better improvement than any situation we have had up until now. Similarly, on the south-west coast, from north Kerry to Mizen Head in Cork, we would have a very important area which would be exclusively a 12-mile zone. The area westwards of Castletownbere, which is one of our major fishing harbours, would have a guaranteed 12-mile exclusive zone.
We have not adopted a policy of defeat on this. We are prepared to negotiate the best possible deal. The present proposals are much improved on anything that we have had up until now. Nevertheless, we will endeavour in the negotiations which are taking place, and which will be continued on 22 July, to keep our 12-mile areas as exclusive as possible.
Another question which has arisen and which has been discussed at some length is that of quotas and the total allowable catch for various species, which are very important for us. I expressed to the Commission my disappointment at the fact that the total allowable catches and quotas in the various species are unacceptable from our point of view. If I give an indication of one particular species which is of great importance to us, Senators might understand the situation better. The proposal originally from the Commission was that the Irish quota for mackerel for this year would be 56,000 tonnes. I made my feelings known both to the Commission and to the Council that this would be a totally unsatisfactory quota from our point of view. Late on Tuesday night the Commission, in a revised proposal on quotas, submitted a proposal which would increase the quota for our mackerel from the 56,000 tonnes to 80,000 tonnes. This is a significant improvement on the quota for mackerel, but it would be our wish to get as much as possible because I realise it is of great importance to Senator Loughrey and to the people in Donegal who are heavily engaged in the mackerel industry.
We have got to point out as well, regrettable as it is, that the stocks of most of the traditional species Irish fishermen have fished for are now threatened. Salmon stocks are now under severe pressure. It is apparent to almost everyone and to the fishermen themselves that we cannot continue to fish mackerel stocks indiscriminately. We have to keep in mind that unless we produce conservation measures here and take care to ensure that the stocks we have are protected we will be threatening the whole future of the mackerel industry.
Conservation measures must be taken, not only by ourselves but by the members of the Community who also have responsibility. Other member states of the Community have not been playing the game in relation to the level of their fishing efforts in the past number of years. I will be making that point quite clear to the Community. If we expect our fishermen to take conservation measures we will equally expect other members of the Community to take similar measures in the areas in which they have traditional rights.
The new quota proposals which are on the table are an improvement on the situation which pertained up until now, but we are still not satisfied with them. I have pointed this out and will continue to point it out. I will endeavour to get the best possible quotas, bearing in mind that other issues as well need to be attended to by us.
The development of aquaculture and mariculture was advocated by numerous Senators. Senator Fitzgerald spoke of the Tralee Bay Oyster Fishery. As is well known, since 1978 we have been getting grants from FEOGA through the Community for aquaculture and for general fishery development. The total grants from FEOGA for 1982 will be in the region of £10 million, and about £500,000 has been granted for the Tralee Bay Oyster Fishery.
Senator Byrne referred to the St. George Fishery in Galway. I had a meeting recently with the oyster fishermen in the Clarinbridge area. I pointed out to them that we would give the same attention to the Clarinbridge project as we have to the Tralee Bay project. The fishermen themselves have responsibility here and we will give them all the assistance we can by way of providing a development plan for the fishery there. We will also help out if the co-operative is established there and which will be organised in the same way as the Tralee Bay Oyster Fishery. From our point of view, we have purchased the St. George Oyster Fishery. It is my intention to develop it and we have proper management proposals for the development and expansion of the beds in the future. Of course, the local people have a responsibility here as well. I had a meeting with them recently and I am prepared to meet them again. Every effort will be made to promote the development of aquacultural activities and to provide, in so far as it is possible, the back-up service and the proper management and development programmes for these aquacultural projects.
The potential is there. The National Board for Science and Technology in a recently published document have highlighted the areas in which there is potential. They have also highlighted the number of jobs that can be created by a properly developed aquacultural industry. There is no doubt that there are job opportunities and benefits from an aquacultural programme. At the same time one has to be cautious. One has to ensure that in this type of specialised and skilled area the best possible scientific and management expertise will be employed. Unless it is done carefully and well, irreparable damage can be done in many other areas.
I would appeal for the co-operation of the various groups who are interested in aquacultural projects. From our point of view, in the Department and in An Bord Iascaigh Mhara, we would be willing to help out in any way possible and meet any organisations, especially co-operatives, who would be interested in plans for aquacultural developments in any areas which are suitable for that type of development.
Senator West mentioned the need for more investment in the fishing industry. The sum voted for fisheries this year was £19.5 million, a considerable amount of money bearing in mind the difficult financial situation. The same Senator spoke of other problems which could cause damage, such as pollution and effluent control. I said recently that people who are involved in projects such as aquaculture need to be careful and be familiar with the dangers that can arise from the indiscriminate disposal of waste, or pouring silage effluent into rivers. We had a number of very damaging cases where almost complete stocks were wiped out this year, not because of any wish on anyone's part to do this, but because people were not fully familiar with the damage that can be done to fisheries through this type of indiscriminate silage making on the banks of rivers. I have made numerous statements in an endeavour to bring home to people the damage that can be done. Many organisations could play a part here and help us in the drive to eliminate this type of activity.
The question of damage to stocks through the use of monofilament nets was raised and a suggestion was made to me that we could introduce a total ban on the importation of monofilament nets. It certainly would be desirable, but the difficulty is that monofilament net is used in more areas than salmon fishing. Experienced fishermen here will know that for gill nets and other types of fishing activities, expecially for cod, monofilament net is used and would have to be imported for this reason. You cannot impose a ban on all monofilament nets without creating problems in other areas of fishing activity. At the same time, I will have the question examined to see if it would be possible to have some further restrictions on the importation of monofilament nets. No doubt, they are most damaging and every effort must be made to try to ban their use.
A number of Senators were concerned about infrastructural development and the need for proper harbour facilities and proper development in our fish landing places. I agree with many of the views expressed. In areas where fish are landed, especially in small isolated areas which are remote and difficult of access, small amounts of money can provide important works. I am very conscious of this. In the past the policy has been to develop the five major harbour centres and, this year, something in the region of £4.15 million will be spent on the development of harbours generally.
Most of the allocation of money has gone into the development of the five major fishing harbour centres, which I feel has been the right policy for the development of the industry. However, we have come to the stage now where we can have a look at the secondary ports and I visited a number of them recently. I saw the problems of fishermen, and the dangers that are involved, and the importance of building up secondary harbours where there has been an increase in fishing activity over the past number of years, and where the facilities are not adequate and, in some cases, are dangerous. Once the major centres are finished we can direct our attention to some of the medium-sized or secondary harbours. The difficulty is that along the whole coastline we have about 850 landing places and, to be realistic about it, there is a limit to the amount of available resources. We have to try to spend the resources in the areas which will be of most benefit having regard to the amount of fishing effort involved.
Senator Loughrey was concerned about the synchrolift in Killybegs. My information is that the equipment is in hand for the lift and the construction of the platform will be undertaken shortly by the Office of Public Works. I am not aware of any delay. Perhaps the Senator could check it out and if there is a delay we can talk again about it.
Many Senators referred to the importance of safety, and to the work being done by the voluntary organisations such as the National Lifeboat Institute and many others. As Minister I referred on numerous occasions since my appointment to the dangers involved for fishermen. We have only to look at some recent tragedies to realise the risk at which fishermen stand. We must try to minimise this risk. No effort should be spared to see that all the safety facilities and equipment needed by fishermen are provided. A working party involving the Department of Transport mainly, and some people from my own Department, are looking at the whole area and the views expressed here today will be brought to their notice. I should like to pay tribute to those people who have given their time and energy voluntarily, and at times risked their own lives, when there are accidents at sea. I want to put on record our deep appreciation for the work they have done.
Senator O'Connell referred to the work done by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara who have taken a fair share of abuse. Politicians do too. I join with Senator O'Connell in expressing my gratitude to the board and the staff of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara and to encourage them to press ahead with the work they are doing. I am aware that theirs is a very difficult task. Reference was made to the need to promote more sales of fish at home. Reference was made by Senator O'Connell to the difficulty being experienced in inland areas in getting fish supplies, especially fresh fish. Coming from a maritime constituency I can assure him that not only is it a problem in inland areas, but it is a problem in the maritime constituencies. It has been said that it is often more difficult to get fresh fish in Killybegs than it is in Dublin. An Bord Iascaigh Mhara are aware of this. There is always the difficulty when you are dealing mainly in the fresh fish market, as we are, that you have problems with continuity of supply, and so on. The main thrust of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara's activities from here on will certainly have to be in the marketing area. At a recent function which I attended in Avondale I highlighted the value of fish, and I suggested that a herring a day might keep the doctor away. I will circulate copies of that speech.
Senator Loughrey referred to approval for extra finances for boat-building, and the problems being experienced in the boatyards. I, too, am conscious of the problems in the boatyards. I am not certain that, even an expanded fishery policy in the future which would necessitate the provision of additional boats and additional landing capacity, would in itself resolve the problems in the boatyards. Many of the boatyards have been in difficulties. Some of them have closed down. I am not convinced that the development of the fishing industry alone can resolve the problems in the boatyards. They can be resolved only by restructuring and rationalisation of the boatyards themselves and areas other than the fishing areas. The yards are now privately owned. The owners of a number of boatyards are having discussions with foreign companies in an effort to produce joint ventures.
The point was made that if we built all the boats at home we could save more jobs in the yards. In fact, 96 per cent of the boats built for fisheries in the past seven years were built at home. Certainly it is a cause of concern that there are redundancies and difficulties in the boatyards. As I have said, I am not certain that even an expanded fishery fleet will solve all the problems there. I had discussions with the boat builders on numerous occasions. We have a problem this year because the allocation of funds made by my predecessor is not adequate to meet some of the applications for boats which have been approved. This is the subject of discussion and I hope to have some results as soon as possible. The question of the provision of additional grant assistance is being looked at actively by me at present. Grants for the reconstruction of boats, and grants for the improvement and modernisation of vessels, are already available from BIM. If there are any particular problems perhaps we can talk about them later and see if we can resolve them.
Generally speaking, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, I found the debate today most encouraging, most constructive and helpful. I should like to thank Senators for the very patient way in which they accepted my script at the start of the debate. In fact, it was not a script. They were speaking notes. It was not meant to be a script for circulation. They were speaking notes which I put together for the purposes of this Bill.
