Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 January 2017
1372. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the reported increase in fish quotas per tonne for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41482/16]
View answerI am presuming that the Deputy is referring to the changes for 2017 rather than 2016. The annual EU Fisheries Council negotiations took place on 12th and 13th December last year. Following two days of intensive negotiations, I secured 233,500 tonnes of quotas worth €280 million for Irish fishermen for 2017. This represents an increase of 17,390 tonnes over 2016 and a 6% increase by value.
The original set of proposals from the EU Commission was extremely worrying and would have resulted in cuts to a number of our important stocks. These included a 9% cut to our vital prawn quota, a 68% cut to our Cod quota in the Celtic Sea and a 26% cut to our Celtic Sea Whiting fishery. In total, the original Commission proposals would have resulted in an economic loss of almost €30 million in direct and indirect losses.
During the negotiations, I succeeded in convincing the Commission to apply the appropriate scientific advice for prawns, resulting in a 9% increase. This was my number one priority heading into the negotiations and I was very happy with the outcome. I was also pleased to secure an increase in the Whiting quota in the Celtic Sea of 21%, which, again was fully in line with the scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES).
The proposed cut of 68% for the Cod stock in the Celtic Sea was reduced to a 38%. The cut applicable to Ireland was reduced to 14%, through the application of the Hague Preferences. These are arrangements which benefit Ireland in circumstances where the Total Allowable Catch is set at a low level due to the situation of certain stocks, including Cod in the Celtic Sea. The Hague Preferences came under significant threat this year from a number of Member States but I successfully argued for their application thereby ameliorating the significant cut to Cod in the Celtic Sea.
A number of increases for Ireland’s important Pelagic Fisheries for 2017 were also agreed through the Coastal States negotiations and confirmed at the December Council. These include a Mackerel quota for 2017 of 86,429 tonnes - an increase of over 10,500 tonnes (14%) from 2016. This is worth over €10million directly to our catching sector with further value to be added by our mackerel processing factories in Donegal, Galway, Kerry and Cork. Significant increases in Ireland’s Blue Whiting and Atlanto Scandian Herring quotas were also achieved. Some cuts were agreed where they were justified by scientific evidence. These include a 36% cut to the Boarfish TAC and a 6% cut to Celtic Sea Herring, which is under a long term management plan.
I am satisfied that the end result delivered a balanced package which has been broadly welcomed by the Irish fishing industry. I am also happy that it is a result which fully respects the scientific advice provided by the ICES ensuring the continued vibrancy of our industry and the long term sustainability of our stocks.
