Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 January 2015
291. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm the traditional swap between Ireland and Belgium for plaice in areas VII f-g; and the benefit this is to Irish fishermen. [49675/14]
View answer292. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the traditional swap between Ireland and Belgium for plaice quota was taken with the consent of the fishing industry; and the sector of the fishing industry this negotiation took place with. [49676/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 291 and 292 together.
Swaps of quota with other Member States are discussed in advance with the Industry at the monthly Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC) meeting and also through e-mail with the QMAC. In almost all cases, the advice of the industry representatives are followed in respect of swops.
The monthly whitefish meetings are organised in accordance with a formal written protocol which I put in place in November 2013. This protocol provides that the Committee will comprise representatives from each of the 4 recognised Producer Organisations (POs), the Irish Fish producers and Exporters Association (IFPEA), the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Department. The meeting is chaired by a Department representative. Each of the Producer Organisations (POs) and the IFPEA are represented by a single attendee and in addition each organisation may invite one observer to the meeting. It is practice that the POs have usually one representative of a fisheries co-operative at these meetings as an invitee. Where representatives or observers have business interests related to the fishery/quota under discussion, they must advise the meeting of those business interests when giving a view on management issues.
It is in the interest of the industry as a whole that appropriately recognised organisations represent their interests to deliver a co-ordinated and cohesive view for the benefit of the industry. I consider that this would be very difficult if representation was at the individual level or fragmented amongst a large number of smaller ad hoc representatives groups. In addition, it is important as far as possible for the POs to develop a common position on issues, although this is not always achieved.
Each year a number of swaps of fishing quotas and effort are arranged by the Department with other Member States. Swaps involve an exchange of fishing opportunities with another Member State and are based on financial value of the exchanges proposed. Swaps are normally initially proposed or organised by the fishing industry led by the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) which comprises the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation, Irish Fish Producers’ organisation and the Killybegs Fishermen’s Producers Organisation. The Irish South and East Producers Organisation also make proposals and each PO is consulted on swops.
In relation to the swap in 2014 between Ireland and Belgium for plaice in areas VII f, g, this was part of a swap for which Ireland received 125t Monkfish in Area VII. In return Ireland gave Belgium 150t of Plaice in VII f, g and 100t Plaice in Area VIIa. This is a long standing swop that is agreed each year between Belgium and Ireland that provides Ireland with additional monkfish which is a targeted fishery and very important for part of the Irish fleet. This swop was discussed in advance with the POs, at the QMAC meetings on 7 January and 21 February 2014. The FIF fully supported the swop, while the IS&EFO expressed concerns. Taking into account the views expressed, the Department completed the swop. It is expected that a proposal for a similar swop will be under consideration again this year.
