Bernard Durkan
Question:533. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his vision for the future development of the fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6869/14]
View answerTuesday, 11 February 2014
Questions (533)
Written answers
From the outset of the Common Fisheries Policy revision process, Ireland’s overarching goal was to ensure a sustainable, profitable and self reliant industry that protects and enhances the social and economic fabric of rural coastal communities dependent on the seafood sector, while balancing these objectives with the need to ensure that fish stocks would be protected for future generations.
The new Common Fisheries Policy puts fishermen at the core in developing technical and conservation measures to protect juvenile fish and vulnerable fish species with a completely new regionalised decision making approach. This is a significant change as up to now fisheries decision making was centred in Brussels. The new CFP has moved away from the old system of EU wide development and application of the rules (a one size fits all approach). Instead, the new policy provides for the development of measures appropriate for each region by the Member States, in consultation with the stakeholders through the new Advisory Councils to devise and implement measures that work for the types of fisheries in the region. A first meeting of Member States from the North West region was hosted by Ireland in November.
A practical and phased discards policy is being introduced where in early years of implementation, TACs and quotas will be set to take account of current levels of discards, which should see quotas increase over time. This means that fishermen will have time to adjust and implement changes that will allow for the avoidance of non target species where there are particular problems with the relevant by-catch (such as that the stock is overfished and needs to be allowed to rebuild). In that context, I have established a national Discards Implementation Group to advise on the issues arising in the effective implementation of the new policy and to recommend practical solutions and arrangements that take into account the situation of the Irish industry.
Another key element of the new CFP is the setting of fishing levels on the basis of the MSY Principle (Maximum Sustainable Yield). This should lead to healthy fish stocks and to higher quotas for Irish fishermen and more sustainable fishing patterns.
Technical measures will also be introduced to avoid and minimise catches of juvenile fish and the reforms contain a commitment to continue and further strengthen conservation measures in the biologically sensitive area off the South and West coast of Ireland (new Irish box). The commitment to develop and strengthen biologically sensitive areas, with spawning grounds and high populations of juvenile fish will also protect the livelihoods of coastal communities by ensuring that fish are allowed to grow to maturity, are more plentiful and fished in a environmentally responsible manner.
Finally, and crucially from an Irish perspective, the Hague Preferences have been maintained and given increased reference in this agreement. The Hague Preferences have traditionally given Ireland an increased share of traditional whitefish stocks such as cod, haddock and whiting in the waters off our coast when stock levels are decreasing. It is important to bear in mind that other Member States receive reduced quota as a result of their allocation to Ireland and to the UK and there was no support from other Member States for a specific provision that would have made the application of Hague Preferences a mandatory provision of the CFP. In that context, having an increased reference to the Hague Preferences in the recitals of the new CFP Regulation is significant as it can be seen by other Member States as a clear signal of the intent of the Council and the Parliament.
My plans for the development of the overall seafood sector in the very short term are set out in the Seafood Development Programme 2007-2013, and the complementary Irish Seafood National Programme 2007-2013, which identify the investment priorities for the development of the sector up to 2015. The Seafood Development Programme includes the overwhelming majority of initiatives for the development of the sector. That Programme is co-funded by the European Union under the European Fisheries Fund. It was considerably updated in 2012, following an interim evaluation of its progress. The Programme identifies the development needs of the catching, processing and aquaculture sectors and the measures that will be implemented to address those needs. The complementary Irish Seafood National Programme is the framework programme for a small number of measures that are not included in the Seafood Development Programme or are not eligible for EU co-funding.
My Department is presently preparing a new Operational Programme for the seafood sector for the period 2014-2020 under the proposed EU Regulation for the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. The EU co-legislators recently reached political agreement on this proposed EU Regulation and the Council and European Parliament will vote on the proposal in the coming months. I would hope to see the Regulation adopted by the Summer. My Department has already conducted a public consultation with stakeholders in 2013 on issues facing the sector and investment priorities for the new Programme. In the coming months, my Department will continue to work closely with stakeholders as the new plan for the sector is developed. I would anticipate that the plan will be completed before the end of this year.