Written Answers. - Exploratory Fishing.
Madeleine Taylor-Quinn
Ceist:
30
Mrs. Taylor-Quinn
asked the
Minister for the Marine
the number of applications with his Department for exploratory fishing; if grant assistance is available from his Department or the European Commission for such activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The promotion of exploratory fishing is an integral element of the Government's policy for the fisheries sector and is aimed at developing additional catch possibilities for the Irish fleet.
Grants of up to 10 per cent of eligible costs are provided by Board Iascaigh Mhara. In addition, 20 per cent grants are available from the EC Commission under its structures regulation subject to specific conditions in relation to the size of vessels participating and the length of exploratory programmes.
To date, all four Irish projects submitted for EC aid have been successful. These have involved total EC grants of approximately IR£830,000. A further two applications have just been submitted to the Commission for consideration and I am hopeful that these will also be successful. The main target species in both applications are blue whiting and argentines.
With regard to further applications, I understand that BIM are currently in the process of finalising an application in respect of exploratory fishing for deep-water, non-quota, whitefish. I expect that this application will be with my Department shortly for examination and submission to Brussels. A programme involving tuna fishing is planned and it is hoped to have this underway by August.
I should point out as well that there is also a number of smaller ongoing exploratory programmes being assisted by BIM. These include programmes involving brown and white shrimp, scallops and white fish.
As I indicated at the outset the promotion of exploratory fishing is a key element of our programme for the development of the fishing industry.
Equally important is the take up by our fleet of all available catch opportunities and especially those which are not subject to quotas but could become so in the future. I have stressed to the fishing industry the priority that it must attach to diversifying the catch. The State agencies will facilitate the industry in every way they can in pursuing such diversification.
