asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will make a statement on the overall fish quota arrangements for Irish fishermen for 1984.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Fish Quotas.
6.
The quotas agreed for 1984 at the Council of EEC Fisheries Ministers held on 31 January 1984 are now legally binding under Community law. As the Deputy is aware, there is now a historical base for the setting of such quotas, that is, the agreement of 25 January, 1983. If the Irish allocation for a particular stock has been taken, further fishing on that stock by Irish vessels will be illegal for the remainder of this year. I do not, however, envisage this arising in many cases because of the satisfactory level of quotas negotiated.
The Deputy may have in mind a restrictive licensing system on the lines of that recently introduced by the British Government but I have no proposals to introduce such a scheme here at present. However, licences will be required by Irish vessels, as in the past, to fish for western stock mackerel and Celtic Sea herring in order to ensure a fair distribution of catches and to avoid market disruption.
The Minister will be aware that there has been some criticism from the industry regarding inadequate quota arrangements. In view of the changing stock situation, especially in relation to the Celtic Sea and some other areas, will the Minister state if any extra allocation can be made at this stage or if any such allocation has been sought?
In relation to the mackerel quota, there was an increase from 80,000 tonnes to 85,300 tonnes for this year. In relation to Celtic Sea herring, an increase was negotiated there and that was on account because the final ICES figures were not available when the quotas were set. Those figures became available at the beginning of May. A subsequent Council meeting in Brussels decided there was a sufficient quantity left in the quotas to allow us to fish. They may be looked at again in September or October when, based on increased figures, stocks will be further increased.
Has the Minister sought any specific amount?
I do not think I should show my hand at this stage in relation to negotiating approaches which will take place in two months' time.