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Programme for Government

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 May 2021

Wednesday, 12 May 2021

Questions (307)

Holly Cairns

Question:

307. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to promote the introduction of constructive technical measures that promote sustainability, decrease by-catch and protect fish stocks for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25154/21]

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Written answers

I can assure the Deputy that the Government is fully committed to the environmental objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The CFP provides the framework for the long-term conservation and sustainable management of fish stocks around our shores and is designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of fishing in Ireland's 200 miles zone and throughout EU waters.

Technical measures are used to support sustainable fishing. Technical measures are rules on how, where and when fishers may fish and also include gear, catch composition and ways to deal with accidental catches. A revised and updated EU Regulation on conservation though technical measures was adopted by Council and Parliament on 20 June 2019 (EU Regulation 2019/1241). This Regulation sets the baseline standards for each sea basin.

The measures may include specifications for design and use of fishing gears including minimum mesh size for particular fisheries, more selective gears to avoid and reduce unwanted catches including juvenile fish, areas closed for restricted fishing seasons and minimum conservation and landing sizes for fish.

EU Member States with a fisheries interest in a given sea basin can agree on regional technical measures, adapted to the specific regional circumstances. Such measures can then be adopted as EU secondary legislation, if confirmed by scientists to be consistent with the objectives of the common fisheries policy. Ireland works with Member States in the North West Waters region and are advised by stakeholders through the North West Waters Advisory Council and Pelagic Advisory Council to agree appropriate technical measures for the fisheries in which we participate.

My Department works closely with Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) to bring forward proposals at EU level for technical measures for the fisheries in which we operate that result in increased selectivity and provide increased protection to overfished and sensitive stocks. In that regard, a range of technical measures for the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and the North West area have been developed over recent years. BIM, working with the fishing industry, has developed and trialled many of these measures which have been designed to protect vulnerable stocks such as cod and whiting. For 2021, these measures have been included in Council Regulation 2021/92 - the TAC and quota Regulation. It is planned that these measures and any additional measures agreed through the regional procedures, will be given effect through an EU delegated act in accordance with Article 15(2) of Regulation 2019/1241 in recognition of the need to apply them on a stable basis.

BIM is continuing to work closely with the fishing industry to develop modification to fishing gears to increase further selectivity and to further avoid juvenile fish or vulnerable species. In addition BIM is carrying out trials on new gear options to also improve fuel efficiency and help reduce carbon emissions. I am pleased that the commitment of industry, working with BIM to develop improved fishing practices that will strengthen sustainability and conservation of fish stocks, is delivering positive outcomes.

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