Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2024
503. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what proposals and actions he intends to pursue to ensure that the Irish pelagic quota, under the Common Fisheries Policy, CFP, total allowable catches, TACs, return to pre-Brexit levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6434/24]
View answerThis Government is committed to addressing the challenges facing our seafood sector following the adoption of the EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA), which has been the most significant and enduring challenge faced by the fisheries sector in generations. I can assure the Deputy that I am pursuing all opportunities at EU level to help address the unequal burden sharing whereby Ireland carries an excessive burden of the EU quota transfers to the UK and I am constantly seeking opportunities for Ireland to increase fishing opportunities where possible.
In 2023, through the EU-Norway agreement I secured an additional 4,000 tonnes of Blue Whiting for Ireland giving Irish fishers a total Blue Whiting quota of 53,776 tonnes for 2023 worth in excess of €13 million. In addition, I was able to secure a significant reduction in the level of Norwegian access to EU, and consequently, Irish waters. Traditionally, Norway has been able to catch up to 68% of its own Blue Whiting quota in EU waters. The amount agreed for 2023 represented only 45% of Norway’s 2023 Blue Whiting quota. This downward trend in Norwegian access continues in 2024, where the level of access is reduced to approximately 41%. In addition, Ireland's contribution to the EU's transfer of Blue Whiting to Norway in 2024 is less than the 4% cap I established in previous years - meaning more quota is available to Irish fishers.
At the Fisheries Council in December 2023, I secured additional mackerel quota-share for Ireland worth approximately €3 million annually for Ireland’s fishing industry. This represents the first ever permanent increase in Mackerel quota.
I established the Seafood Sector Taskforce to examine the impacts of the TCA on our fishing sector and coastal communities and to make recommendations to me on a mitigation strategy. On foot of the report of the Task Force, which comprehensively considered the needs of the sector, 14 schemes were put in place to provide funding directly to industry. Two further schemes to provide other necessary supports were also put in place - one implemented by Bord Bia to promote Inshore fisheries products and the other, the Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme, which funded investment in the piers and harbours maintained by local authorities. These were all funded under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR).
I consistently keep a strong focus within the Fisheries Council on the matter of the disproportionate quota reductions for Ireland under the TCA. At my insistence, the Conclusions on the Commission's Fisheries Policy Package - which failed to address the impacts of Brexit - include a demand that the Commission fully analyse and report on the impacts of the quota transfers, as well as the need to develop a comprehensive strategy for relations with Third Countries.
I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to use any opportunity available to seek constructive solutions that would help to alleviate this unacceptable position.
The Programme for Government sets down an ambitious programme of actions that promote a sustainable seafood industry and I am committed to working to continue to build on the progress that has been made to secure a sustainable future for our fishing industry and the coastal communities which depend upon it.
