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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 2 Feb 1988

Vol. 377 No. 3

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Herring Fishing Season.

21.

asked the Minister for the Marine if he will give details of his reasons for closing the Celtic Sea herring fishing without warning either to those boats who had not yet fished their quota, or to the processors who had contractual commitments on the basis of a continuum of supply.

15.

asked the Minister for the Marine if he will immediately reopen the Celtic Sea herring fisheries.

16.

asked the Minister for the Marine the information or criteria on which his judgment was based to suddenly close down the herring fishing season on 22 January 1987 before the Irish herring quota was completed.

88.

asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to difficulties being experienced by fish processing plants in completing contracts for herring roe for the Japanese market because of the closure of the Celtic Sea for herring fishing; and if he will take steps to alleviate the situation in order that valuable export contracts can be safeguarded.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 15, 16 and 88 together.

The position is that my Department, in consultation with the various fishing interests involved, manage this fishery. A management regime, incorporating individual boat quotas and a total take of 6,000 tonnes approximately, was adopted for the January-February fishery. On 22 January last, I decided, on the basis of strong scientific advice, to close the fishery because of my concern for the future of the herring stocks. In the early part of January, a large proportion of the fish landed from the fishery were made up of very young fish — two years old — the majority of which had not spawned. The risks inherent in this type of fishing and its long term impact on the stock made such a decision imperative. I could not allow a possible return to the situation which existed ten years ago when herring fishing in the Celtic Sea was totally prohibited for five years because of the poor state of the stock, resulting mainly from the catching of young fish.

I would also wish to point out that my Department were in contact, in advance of the closure, with representatives of the fishermen and also the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association, who represent the processing industry. The majority of the processors directly concerned were in favour of the proposed closure.

I, the Minister and Departmental officials have since met a number of deputations from the IFO and the IFPEA. Following these discussions we have agreed on a course of action which will address the concerns of fishermen and also allow us to secure the scientific objective, which is the preservation of this stock in the long term. I am satisfied that the proposed course of action is the best strategy in the circumstances. It involves test fishing to determine the quality and age structure of the herring in the fishery at present. The decision to close the fishery will be reviewed in the light of the results of the test fishing.

I asked the Minister to indicate on what basis he can say the fishery was closed on strong scientific advice when the scientists themselves admit that the quality of their scientific advice is inadequate. It is more than seven years since there was a vessel survey and three to four years since there was a larva survey. Is it not a fact that, despite the fact that we need serious management programmes — this being the first year the Celtic Sea is managed by the Department of the Marine — the Minister was afraid to go after those boats which had fished their quota and found it easier to close off the Celtic Sea fishing in a panic reaction rather than apply the law with equity and justice?

I am anxious to dispose of the Deputy's remaining question.

A number of vessels were apprehended and some of the Deputy's colleagues have made a case to me not to take steps against them. What we are doing is taking action and ensuring that this 6,000 tonnes will be spread equitably among the 60 odd boats involved. In conjunction with the IFO after discussions which concluded at 3 a.m. last Wednesday, we decided on a course of action. In relation to the scientific advice we have received, there could be a natural closure there. We are assuring those fishermen who have been badly done by because of the over-fishing by some vessels, that all these matters will be taken into consideration when we are working out a quota which will be equitable and just.

Question No. 22.

Furthermore, 0.95 per cent of the fish landed was one year old and 62.5 per cent was two year old. This means that one and two year old fish constituted 63 per cent of the fish caught. If this continues we will have a repeat of what happened ten years ago when we had to close the fisheries for five years. We must act responsibly and we are doing that. As a result the fishermen will be financially better off at the end of this year. Furthermore, I am confident we will secure another 4,000 to 5,000 tonnes of herring from the EC during 1988.

The time has now came to deal with other business. That disposes of ordinary questions and priority questions for today.

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