Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 February 2015
83. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the dumping of surplus catch is complimenting and benefiting the fishing sector, with particular reference to conservation of fish stocks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7242/15]
View answerThe dumping of 'surplus catch' or 'discarding' as it is most commonly 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.
Ireland has been to the forefront for many years in the drive to reduce and eliminate discards in order to eliminate waste, to protect young fish and to rebuild stocks in order to conserve fish stocks and ensure a sustainable future for the fishing industry. I published an Irish “discard atlas” back in 2011, which was the first publication of its kind, and this ultimately assisted in advancing the case for a phased elimination of discards as part of the CFP reform package concluded under the Irish Presidency in 2013.
It was agreed, following intensive negotiations, whereby a practical and phased discards policy or landing obligation is being introduced under EU law for all fleets in all fisheries, with the 1st stock, pelagics, being subject to the ban from the 1st January 2015. The phasing in period, up to 1 January 2019, means that fishermen will have time to adjust and implement changes that will allow for the avoidance of non target species.
At national level, I have established a national Discards Implementation Group, whose primary aim is to ensure that the Irish fishing Industry are fully prepared for, and engaged in, the implementation of the discards ban. A new regional decision making process, involving Ireland, Belgium, France, UK, Netherlands and Spain has also been set up to negotiate and implement measures appropriate to the North West Waters Region. A discards plan for pelagic stocks (herring, mackerel etc.) on the waters of interest to Irish fishermen was agreed under this regional decision making process in 2014. For 2015 the Group are continuing to develop a regional Discards Plan for certain whitefish stocks which is due to be introduced on a phased basis from the 1st January 2016.
I believe that the ending of the previous high levels of discarding carried out by all EU fleets fishing on stocks of interest to the Irish fishing industry will greatly help over time to underpin the sustainability of the Irish fishing industry and lead to greater conservation of fish stocks to the benefit of all.
