Austin Deasy
Ceist:29 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Marine the research facilities that are available to identify areas within our 200 mile exclusion zone, where fish, particularly non-quota species, can be located.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fish Stock Assessment.
Research into the area of fish stock assessment is multifaceted, and covers not only the location of fish stocks but also the relative abundance of the fish, their migratory habits, age structure and their seasonality, among other factors. Research facilities are not just deployed therefore to pinpoint locations, but must encompasss this entire range of relevant factors. International co-operation is particularly important not least because of the migratory nature of many of our fish resources. Ireland plays its full role in such international efforts and benefits in turn from the research undertaken by such bodies as the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.
The main fisheries research facilities in Ireland are located at the Fisheries Research Centre of the Department in Abbotstown, County Dublin. Nearly 50 per cent of the centre's budget is spent on such fish stock assessment programmes and, together with research funding under the EU STRIDE programme, some £738,000 will be expended on fish stock assessment in 1994.
The national research vessel, the r.v. Lough Beltra has been substantially upgraded with the benefit of EU STRIDE funding. The STRIDE investment, totalling some £0.7 million, has facilitated necessary structural alterations, the purchase of state of the art sampling and monitoring equipment and a computerised data acquisition system, and has enhanced the vessel's overall data gathering capability.
Use of the Lough Beltra, which has a limited range as a 21 metre sized vessel, is augmented by chartering Irish fishing vessels and participation in foreign vessel cruises. Research vessel requirements and the range of possible options for meeting industry needs in the future are being assessed at present under the auspices of the Marine Institute.
BIM, in conjunction with the Fisheries Research Centre, carries out experimental fishing programmes into less traditional species off the west coast. Currently, research into non-quota species such as redfish, orange roughy and grenadier is being undertaken with a view to evaluating their commercial possibilities.
In addition to these ongoing programmes of stock assessment, provision has been made in the National Plan for the funding of further new research into fish stocks including non-quota and non-traditional species, and the selective upgrading of research facilities to support this work. This additional investment will be critical to achieving our objective of bringing about a sustainable balance between available fish resources and their exploitation, in particular through the take-up of under-exploited fishing opportunities.
I read in the excellent national daily newspaper, the Cork Examiner— alas there is no one in the press gallery — that French fishing vessels make approximately £70,000 per trip from the catches of non-quota fish in our waters. Does that not send a strong signal that our research to date has been insufficient?
I do not agree. Our research has been very good and the Fisheries Research Centre in Abbotstown does extremely good work. Its staffing complement is 14 involved in fish stock assessment including seven scientists and seven technicians. In addition ten contract staff are employed on such work under the EU STRIDE initiative. The FRC is set to become an integral part of the Marine Institute and discussions have been successfully concluded with the trade unions to facilitate the transfer of staff and secondment initially, pending finalised arrangements for definitive transfer. BIM also undertakes research into experimental fishing and gear technology in conjunction with the FRC. Ireland also benefits from research undertaken in respect of all species carried out under the auspices of the International Council for Exploration of the Sea. Fisheries research staff do a first class job. The Irish marine research operational programme, submitted to the EU Commission as part of the overall National Development Plan, contains provision for a significant research programme for fish stock assessment, including new species. That research will result in a more comprehensive knowledge of stock assessment for non-traditional and non-quota species. The programme will be co-ordinated on a national basis by the Marine Institute.
While we value the importance of research in the development and management of our fishing industry to bring it to its full potential for the benefit of our economy, particularly coastal communities, will the Minister agree that there should be greater co-operation between scientists and fishermen because often fishermen are not informed about the results of scientists' work? Scientists and fishermen would be able to build trust if the scientists carried out their work on fishing boats, leaving money previously spent on hardware vessels, which depreciate in value, available for research.
The Deputy made good suggestions and many have already been addressed.
There is limited co-operation.
There is a reasonable level of co-operation between the scientists and the fishermen. I am sure many scientists would respond positively to requests by fishermen to go out on fishing boats; that would be a welcome development and in their common interest, namely, the survival of the fish species.