Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 September 2013
223. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any fishermen from boats under 17m are directly represented on the Sentinell Herring Fishery Committee, other than PO representatives; if he will provide details of the committee membership and their respective vessel sizes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40290/13]
View answerI am not aware of a Sentinel Herring Fishery Committee. I will take it that the Deputy means the Celtic Sea Herring Management Committee (CSHMAC) whose remit covers all herring fisheries in the Celtic Sea. In 2005, the Minister of the day constituted a Management Committee, the Celtic Sea Herring Management Advisory Committee whose role is to advise the Minister on the management arrangements for the stock.
The Committee has been established on an informal basis i.e. Minister decided to establish the Committee and issued letters to relevant organisations asking them to nominate persons to the Committee. The Committee has been very successful in its operation assisting in a rebuilding of the stock and achieving MSC certification. The Committee comprises representatives of industry and processors and is chaired by the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation (IS&WFPO). The Department is not represented on the Committee nor is any other State agency. However, the Marine Institute advises the Committee from time to time on scientific issues relating to the stock. The representation is as follows: Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation – 2 persons; Irish Fish Producers organisation – 2 persons; Irish South and East Fishermens association – 2 persons; Killybegs Fishermens Organisation – 1 Person; Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association – 2 persons; Irish Federation of Fishing Co-operatives – 1 person.
The membership of the committee changes from time to time while retaining the proportion of representatives from each organisation. I do not ratify the individual representatives which the producer organisations nominate to the committee, nor do I retain a list of individual members. Most Producer Organisations on the committee represent a range of fishing boat owners from small vessels to larger vessels and fishing vessel owner are free to join a producer organisation which best represents their interest.
