Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 June 2014
141. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the cessation of the dumping of surplus catch continues to benefit fish conservation measures in this country and throughout the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26532/14]
View answerDumping of ‘surplus catch’ or ‘discarding’ as it is more usually referred to is a complex global problem where unwanted catches are returned to the sea as a result of a number of factors including quota restrictions, high grading, minimum landing sizes, and market conditions. Levels of discards in the EU vary depending on the size and nature of the fishery. Ireland has been to the forefront in the drive to reduce and eliminate discards for many years and I was delighted to launch an Irish “discard” atlas in 2011, which is a detailed compendium of discards by the Irish Fleet targeting whitefish on a stock by stock and area by area basis. This was the first publication of its kind and placed Ireland firmly to the fore in the debate on eliminating discards and assisted in advancing the case for a phased elimination of discards as part of the CFP reform package.
Finding practical and implementable solutions to the wasteful practice of discarding fish was a major component of the negotiations for the reform of Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) which were concluded under the Irish Presidency in 2013. To this end I was pleased that agreement was finally reached whereby a practical and phased discards policy or landing obligation will be introduced, beginning in 2015. The phasing in period 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, under the Chairmanship of Dr. Noel Cawley, 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. The primary aim of the group is ensure that the Irish fishing industry are fully prepared for, and engaged in, the implementation of the discards ban.
The work of Dr. Cawley’s group also contributes directly to the work of the regional group of Member States (Ireland, Belgium, France, UK, Netherlands and Spain) who have the primary responsibility in the development of specific ‘Discard Plans’ for fisheries in north western waters. The first of these, for pelagic fisheries, will come into effect on 1 January 2015. 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 safeguard fish stocks for future generations. I strongly believe that the new CFP will achieve that goal.
The new CFP, in particular the phased elimination of discarding will mean real meaningful reform to how EU waters are fished in the future. The agreement is designed to ensure the long term sustainability of fishing in Ireland and throughout EU waters, utilising best scientific advice as a key determinant in setting annual fishing quotas in the future. It will provide the framework for the long term sustainability of fish stocks around our shores, the continued economic viability of our fishing fleet and fish processing while supporting the communities that depend on a vibrant fishing industry. The new CFP will support the rebuilding of fish stocks in European waters and will allow for setting TACs and quotas to reflect catches when a landing obligation is introduced on the basis that for the first and subsequent years, discarding of that stock will no longer be allowed. In the longer term as fish stocks reach and are maintained at healthy levels, it will support increased fishing opportunities for our fishermen.
