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Fish Quotas

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 February 2013

Tuesday, 12 February 2013

Questions (602)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

602. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent, if known, to which all EU countries including Ireland continue to enforce fishing quotas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7378/13]

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Written answers

Ireland manages and enforces its Fishing quotas in accordance with the specifications of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). This involves regular consultation with fishing industry interests. Our existing quota management system is designed to ensure the rational management of the available quotas, having regard to fishing patterns and market conditions, the best possible spread both between fishermen and also in terms of take up of quota during the year. A key objective is the avoidance of very early closure of fisheries through rapid exhaustion of quota. Under the current arrangements, fishing industry representatives are consulted formally through the Whitefish Quota Management Advisory Committee on a monthly basis and their views are taken into account as far as possible in the determination of monthly regimes for particular stocks. The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority is the national body for the control and enforcement of sea fisheries law and work with the Naval Service to control and enforce compliance with quota management arrangements and accurate reporting of landings.

The CFP itself is currently in the process of undergoing significant reform, a process which has been prioritised for action under the Irish EU Presidency. Particular emphasis in the reform process will be on measures to eliminate discards, achieve appropriate maximum long term sustainable yields from annual fisheries and moves toward the introduction of fair and transparent regionalisation mechanisms. If as I hope, the Council and the EU Parliament reach agreement on these measures, the process should help support the ongoing development of a sustainable and thriving Irish and European fishing industry into the future.

In common with procedures which operate here in Ireland individual EU Member States have similar responsibilities for the management of fisheries quotas. Inevitably the precise nature of these enforcement procedures may vary from one Member State to another. Any issues which may emerge in terms of management by individual member states are a matter for the EU Commission in terms of its responsibility to ensure the rules of the CFP are fully respected.

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