The Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003 transferred the functions of sea-fishing boat licensing from the Minister to the Licensing Authority for Sea-fishing Boats, which operates on an independent basis subject to criteria set out in that Act and Ministerial Policy Directives. The Licensing Authority is the Registrar General of Fishing Boats, an official of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine or, under the superintendence of the Registrar General, the Deputy Registrar General of Fishing Boats.
The Registrar General of Fishing Boats is charged with maintaining a Register of Fishing Boats and with the proper management of the capacity of the Irish fleet.
Capacity in the form of gross tonnage and engine power is not an asset owned by the Department or by the Licensing Authority. It is a privately owned tradable asset that, with certain exceptions, may be sold, traded or realised as a financial asset on the tonnage market (as the owner deems appropriate). Only off-register capacity (i.e. capacity from a vessel which has been removed from the Fishing Boat Register) may be sold or traded etc. All transfers of capacity must be approved by the Licensing Authority.
Mackerel fleet policy is governed by Ministerial Policy Directive 1/2011, as amended by Policy Directives 2/2011 and 1/2017. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food determined which polyvalent vessels, or off-register polyvalent capacity qualified for classification as 'Tier 1" or 'Tier 2". These determinations were notified to the Licensing Authority. The Licensing Authority noted these determinations and separately 'ring-fenced' Tier 1 and Tier 2 vessels and capacity within the polyvalent segment of the fleet.
The Registrar General has advised me of the "Active" Off-Register capacity as at 31 December 2020 and this is outlined in the table below:
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"Active" Off-Register Capacity (as at 31 December 2020)
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Segment
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GT
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kW
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Refrigerated Seawater (RSW) Pelagic:
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11,230
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661.89
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Polyvalent (>=18metres Length overall)*
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2,229.55
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6,833.245
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Polyvalent (<18metres Length overall)**
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432.84
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2,647.735
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*Of which, 9GT & 91.66 kW is "ring-fenced" as Tier 1, 292.3GT & 705.5 kW is "ring-fenced" as Tier 2
**None of which is "ring-fenced" as Tier 1 or Tier 2 capacity
In the context of the Commission Proposal for a Regulation establishing a Brexit Adjustment Reserve, I am exploring a variety of possible measures to support our sector with the impacts of the quota transfers to the UK agreed under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. This is likely to include a Temporary Fleet Tie-up Scheme to support the sector in the short term as the effects of the quota transfers begin to effect fishing opportunities.
On 21 January, I announced in the Dáil my intention to set up a task force involving seafood industry representatives and representatives of other stakeholders to provide recommendations to me on appropriate measures to support our seafood sector and coastal communities with the impacts of the quota cuts. My Department and Bord Iascaigh Mhara will be working closely with the Taskforce over the coming months.
