Brian O'Shea
Ceist:9 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Marine if he will make a statement on the reduction in the cod quota for the Celtic Sea and the overall reduction in the whiting quota for 1990.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Fish Quotas.
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:33 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Marine if he is satisfied with the herring, mackerel and cod quotas for 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
(Limerick West): I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 33 together.
The total allowable catches and quotas for 1990 were set by the Council of Fisheries Ministers at their meeting in December 1989. The total allowable catches are based primarily on scientific advice on the state of each stock and the level of catch which is consistent with maintaining viable fishery and gainful employment for fishermen on a sustained basis. The total allowable catch is, where national quotas are involved, allocated between countries on the basis of predetermined distribution keys which are a central element of the Common Fisheries Policy.
The toal herring quota for 1990 is 52,050 tonnes as compared with 44,810 tonnes in 1989 or an increase of 7,240 tonnes which was 6,810 tonnes higher than proposed initially by the EC Commission. The total mackerel quota, before taking account of bilateral exchanges in either of the years concerned, is 70,550 tonnes in 1990 as compared with 69,280 tonnes in 1989 or an increase of 1,270 tonnes. In addition, an extra 3,000 tonnes was achieved for 1990 by way of a bilateral exchange. The cod quota of 2,450 tonnes in the Celtic Sea shows a slight increase in 1990 as compared with 1989. I succeeded, however, in achieving an increase of 260 tonnes on the initial EC Commission proposals for 1990. The total whiting quota for 1990 is 16,760 tonnes as compared with 17,470 tonnes in 1989 or a reduction of 710 tonnes. In the case of whiting, I would point out that from an initial position of facing a Commission proposal for a 5,220 tonnes reduction, a reduction of only 710 tonnes was achieved by vigorous negotiations and invoking the Hague Agreement.
It has to be accepted that there will be variations from year to year in the quotas for individual fish stocks having regard to the trend in those stocks and the need to protect the long-term interests of fishermen through proper conservation.
In 1990 the total quotas available to Irish fishermen show an increase on 1989. As I have explained to the House on a number of previous occasions, I am fully satisfied that the arrangements I negotiated last December represented a highly satisfactory outcome from what were extremely difficult negotiations and were more favourable in Ireland's case than for most other member states.
The Minister has stated there was a bilateral exchange carried out in 1990 in relation to the mackeral quota which resulted in an increase of 3,000 tonnes in the quota. Could the Minister give details of the species that were exchanged for the increase of 3,000 tonnes in the mackeral quota?
(Limerick West): The white fish species.
What species of white fish?
(Limerick West): Cod.
Was it exclusively cod?
(Limerick West): No, 150 tonnes of cod, 135 tonnes of megum and 75 tonnes of monkfish. I should have said that the cod quota of 2,450 tonnes from the Celtic Sea shows a slight increase in 1990 as compared with 1989.