Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 December 2023
438. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he and his Department officials have considered introducing a market disruption fund for shellfish fishermen from EMFAF funding streams due to significant market disturbance in the last while; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53419/23]
View answerI am very aware of the challenges the sector is facing at the moment.
As regards implementing a scheme to mitigate market disruption under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), this is not possible at the moment. The EMFAF Regulation sets out a range of priorities and objectives in relation to the measures that may be funded by the Commission under the Regulation. Article 26 (2) of the Regulation specifically addresses the matter of market disruption and provides for ‘compensation to operators of the fishery and aquaculture sector for their income foregone or additional costs’, however the Article goes on to state that this may only be eligible for funding under EMFAF if the Commission establishes, by means of an implementing decision, the occurrence of an exceptional event.
In 2022 the Commission did issue an implementing decision, EU Regulation 2022/500, which provided that aid paid between February 2022 and December 2022 would be eligible.
At present there is no Commission implementing decision in place that would allow aid to be paid under EMFAF in respect of market disruption.
My Department has provided a range of supports to the inshore fleet over the past few years, funded under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR), and will continue to provide supports to this fleet as further schemes are developed and implemented under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) over the coming years.
With the assistance of my Department, the National Inshore Fishermen’s Association (NIFA) achieved recognition as an EU Producer Organisation and joined the Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation (IIMRO) in representing the inshore sector. These organisations, through the implementation of Production and Marketing Plans, will help to develop opportunities for their members. Both of these organisations are eligible for funding under the EMFAF programme to assist in the achievement of their aims.
It is vital that, in addition to funding supports, we also work to identify and develop new markets for these vessels. As such, I participate in an ongoing programme of trade missions and promotional activities to enhance the continuing efforts of Bord Bia and industry in marketing Ireland's high quality and sustainable seafood and agri-food produce in key priority markets such as China, South East Asia and West Africa and to a number of key European markets all of which are priority growth targets for Ireland’s seafood and agri-food export sectors.
