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Fishing Industry

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 December 2020

Thursday, 10 December 2020

Questions (465)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

465. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to seek access to quotas for Irish fishers for fish types such as bluefin tuna, anchovies and others in new EU quota negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42622/20]

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Written answers

Bluefin tuna is a highly migratory large pelagic species which spawns in the Mediterranean, and then migrates over a wide area of the North East Atlantic to feed.  This migration brings some of the fish into the Irish 200 miles zone for part of the year. At the time we see fish in the Irish zone there are also fish being caught in the international high seas  and over a wide area from Spain to Norway.  There is no survey from which the abundance in Ireland's 200 miles zone may be determined. 

Ireland does not have a national quota for Bluefin Tuna.  The available Bluefin Tuna quota is allocated each year to Member States on the basis of relative stability as established in the late 1990s.  At that time, Ireland did not have a track record of commercial fishing for Bluefin Tuna and, accordingly, did not receive a quota allocation. 

A small Bluefin Tuna by-catch quota is available to Ireland, primarily for use in our important Northern Albacore Tuna fishery and Celtic Sea Herring fishery where there can be Bluefin Tuna by-catch.

In 2018,  Ireland was successful, for the first time, in securing agreement that allowed countries without a commercial quota to set up a catch-tag-release fishery to contribute to the collection of scientific data.  A Catch-Tag-Release science-based fishery for authorised recreational angling vessels has been in place in Ireland since 2019 and supports the collection of valuable data  on the migratory patterns of Bluefin Tuna in Irish waters. 

The only way to obtain a share of the EU quota now would involve changing relative stability within the EU.  The EU percentage share of the international TAC is set down and there is no liklihood that an international country will concede any share to the EU.  This means that EU Member States, with a national quota, would give up a share of their allocation to Ireland. 

As regards Anchovy, this species is sometimes caught in the waters around Ireland, although its abundance in catches is highly variable.  Fishing for Anchovy in Area 8 (Bay of Biscay) and Area 9a (Atlantic-Iberian waters) is regulated by the TAC and Quota system.  In recent years, the distribution of Anchovy has expanded into areas not currently covered by TACs and this is thought to be the result of changes in temperature.  In the past, sporadic increases in abundance of Anchovy have been followed by periods of near absence.  Some fishermen have reported catches in two separate locations south of Cape Clear and in Dingle bay recently.  

At this time, there is no proposal from the EU Commission for a TAC and quota management arrangement for this stock in the waters around Ireland.   I will of course have regard for a possible TAC and quota regime or other appropriate conservation measures going forward if  recommended in the scientific advice to support the sustainable management of the stock.

The EU Commission has advised that it intends to commence the Common Fisheries Policy review process when there is clarity on the future relationship between the EU and the UK.  The review is expected to be detailed and comprehensive.   At EU level, it is expected that all stakeholders will have an opportunity to engage actively in the review work including the fishing industry, eNGOs and Member States.  

I will consider how Ireland will prepare for and participate actively and effectively in the review, including the interaction with stakeholders to prepare Ireland's case and identify priorities.  

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