Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 March 2015
276. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans and the process involved in preparing and completing the strategic environmental assessment for the Common Fisheries Policy 2014-2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10344/15]
View answerI am assuming that the Deputy is referring to the strategic environmental assessment for the new Seafood Development Programme 2014-2020 under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Regulation (508/2014).
I will be launching later this year a new €241 million Seafood Development Programme for the period up to 2020 under the EMFF. The new Programme will provide a range of supports for investments in the fishing, aquaculture and processing sectors. I will be publishing a detailed consultation document and Strategic Environmental Assessment for public consultation later this month, with a view to submitting the new Programme to the European Commission by May 2015. The Commission in turn is likely to adopt the Programme by the Autumn.
The SEA and related appropriate assessment screening have been prepared for my Department by contractors Poseidon Aquatic Resource Management Ltd.
