Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2021
755. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the tonnage of prawn catch currently available to the fishing fleet of each member state in the EU in tabular form; if he will seek to negotiate a higher share in future negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47825/21]
View answerI assure the Deputy that I, as Minister, and this Government continue to keep the focus on the disproportionate quota reductions for Ireland and to use any opportunity available to seek constructive solutions that would help to alleviate this unacceptable position.
I have raised the matter of inequitable burden sharing at EU level and in bilateral exchanges with the Commissioner and other EU Member States, whenever suitable opportunities arise, and I will continue to do so. Last week, during his visit to Ireland, Commissioner Sinkevicius met with industry representatives in Killybegs and heard directly from them that Ireland has paid too high a share of quota under the TCA and I followed up with a bilateral with the Commissioner on all the issues arising.
Later, an Taoiseach and I met the Commissioner to further emphasise from a Government perspective that addressing burden sharing is a priority for Ireland.
EU Regulation 1380/2013 (the basic Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) regulation), sets down that the European Commission will report to the European Parliament and the Council on the functioning of the CFP by the end of 2022.
I have made it clear, most recently during the Commissioner's recent visit, that the Commission must undertake during 2022 a thorough review of the CFP. I am committed to doing all possible through the review to secure additional quota where possible for Irish fishers.
The Commission published a proposal on 6 July proposing an amendment to extend the derogation for access to EU Member States 12 miles zones up until the end of December 2032. It also removed the provisions relating to access for the UK, which are now covered in the TCA. I consider that this important element of the CFP should be dealt with the by the Commission as part of the full CFP review and form part of the formal review and the Commission report to Council and Parliament on the functioning of the CFP. I have written to the Commissioner to make Ireland’s concern and our position clear.
It is expected that all stakeholders will have an opportunity to engage actively in the Commission's review over the coming period, including the fishing industry, eNGOs and Member States. I will consider how Ireland will prepare for and participate actively and effectively in the review of the CFP, including the interaction with stakeholders, to prepare Ireland's case and identify priorities.
The Deputy will find the requested data on Nephrops (prawns) in the attached table.
Quotas of Nephrops norvegicus (Norway Lobster or Prawn) for EU Member States for 2021 as set out in Council Regulation (EU) 2021/1239 (all weights in tonnes)
Waters around Ireland
|
ICES Area |
Ireland |
France |
Spain |
Union Total Allowable Catch |
|
6; UK and International waters of 5b (West of Scotland, North-west of Ireland) |
202 |
121 |
30 |
353 |
|
7 (West and South of Ireland) |
6,102 |
4,023 |
993 |
11,118 |
|
Special condition applying to Area 7 – within the limits of the quotas for Area 7, no more than the quantities across may be taken from Functional Unit 16 (Porcupine) |
1,194 |
621 |
992 |
2,807 |
North Sea
|
ICES Area |
Belgium |
Denmark |
Germany |
France |
Netherlands |
Union Total Allowable Catch |
|
UK and Union waters of 4; UK waters of 2a (North Sea) |
997 |
997 |
15 |
29 |
514 |
2,553 |
