Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020
912. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current membership of the Celtic Sea herring advisory committee; the representation of the membership of the committee in relation to the proportional size of the fleet; when the committee last met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24189/20]
View answerIn 2005, the Minister set up a Celtic Sea Herring Management Advisory Committee (CSHMAC). The primary purpose of the CSHMAC is to provide advice to the Minister in relation to the management of the Celtic Sea Herring Stock and fishery within the policy framework set by the Minister. The Committee meets at relevant intervals during the year to discuss issues of concern to the fishery such as scientific advice regarding the state of the stock and also proposals in relation to future management arrangements within the Minister's policy.
The Committee is comprised of representatives from the four Fish Producer Organisations together with representatives from the National Inshore Fisheries Forum, the Fish Co-Ops and Processors. There are a number of experts that support the work of the Committee and may be invited to attend from time to time. These are from the Marine Institute, Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. The Department is not represented on the Committee. The CSHMAC is chaired by a representative from the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation.
The number of representatives from each organization is set down by the Minister. Nominees from the relevant organisations are a matter for the organisations themselves.
The Celtic Sea Herring Management Advisory Committee has the following representation arrangements:
Irish South and West Fish Producer Organisation Ltd - 2 persons
Irish Fish Producers Organisation Ltd - 2 persons
Irish South and East Fish Producer Organisation - 2 persons
Killybegs Fishermens Organisation -1 person
Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association -2 persons
Irish Federation of Fishing Co-Operatives -1 person
National Inshore Fisheries Forum - 2 persons
The Celtic Sea Herring Fisheries comprise of a Main fishery and a small boat Sentinel fishery in line with Ministerial policy which was put in place in 2012. In 2015, the National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF) requested that they be represented on the CSHMAC to provide representation for the Sentinel operators and this request was approved by the Minister in early 2016.
The operational arrangements for the Committee are a matter for itself and my Department has no involvement.
