Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2004
178 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will make a statement on his participation in and the outcome of the meeting of the European Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers on 17 to 19 December, 2003. [5819/04]
View answerThe outcome of the Fisheries Council in December was generally satisfactory from an Irish viewpoint. The negotiations were difficult and prolonged and included several items of particular interest to Irish fishermen such as the extension of a "days-at-sea" regime as part of a recovery plan for cod stocks. Close liaison was maintained with representatives of the Irish fishing industry throughout the Council and in my view this contributed significantly to the Council's outcome which has been broadly welcomed by the industry.
The Commission had proposed a system of "days-at-sea" that would have limited to an unacceptable degree the length of time that fishermen could spend fishing in all of the Irish Sea and a large area off the Donegal coast. I succeeded in negotiating some fundamental changes to the Commission's proposal which will minimise the impact of the scheme on vessels catching little or no cod, especially prawn fishermen. The fishing effort system agreed provides for a range of fishing days, from no restrictions at all to 12 days per month, depending on the type of fishing gear used and the level of cod, sole and plaice catches. I also persuaded the Council to maintain the spring closure for cod fishing in the northern part of the Irish Sea, thus protecting this stock during its most vulnerable period. The Council also progressed a plan for the recovery of the northern hake stock. These plans aim to restore these stocks to safe levels over a number of years. These are important stocks to Irish fishermen and the need for recovery plans is widely accepted.
The December Council also dealt with the setting of quotas for 2004. Some quotas were reduced in accordance with scientific advice whilst in other cases it was possible to increase quotas, again because of improvements in the status of particular stocks. Overall, an 8% increase over last year's quotas was achieved which, bearing in mind the need to respond to biological concerns on particular stocks such as cod, sole and plaice, I consider to be a good result for Irish fishermen. Our 2004 quotas includes additional quota available under the Hague Preference system under which Ireland gets additional whitefish quotas at the expense of other member states. This was achieved in the face of opposition from certain other member states.
Overall, I believe the outcome of the Council to be a positive one which helps to maintain a balance between the economic needs of the Irish fishing industry and the need to preserve and rebuild key stocks.
