Vol. 496 No. 1
111 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the number and species of fish which have deteriorated due to over fishing or other reasons; if he has satisfied himself that the future of these species is assured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22128/98]
114 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the position in relation to fish stocks off the Irish coast; whether stocks, on a species by species basis, are in decline or stabilising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22132/98]
120 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the position in relation to fish stocks within the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22138/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 114 and 120 together.
The status of the main commercially exploited stocks of fish and shellfish off the Irish coast and within EU waters generally is assessed annually by the relevant national scientists within a number of working groups under the aegis of the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas, ICES. ICES's Advisory Committee on Fisheries Management, ACFM, reviews the reports of the various working groups and a composite report is subsequently presented to the European Community's Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, STECF. The working group reports and ACFM review inform the STECF's proposals to the European Commission on total allowable catches, TACS, and quotas.
I understand that the various ICES working groups have completed their 1998 deliberations and that the ACFM and STECF will commence their reviews shortly.
I have asked the Fisheries Research Centre of the Marine Institute to prepare, on the basis of the ICES and STECF reports, a summary review of the status of the fish stocks of interest to Ireland. I will arrange for a copy of that review to be made available to the Deputy.
The indications are that the scientific advice in relation to a number of fish stocks is extremely pessimistic this year. It can be expected that reductions in TACs and quotas for 1999 will be proposed by the EU Commission in the annual negotiations on TACs and quotas at the December Fisheries Council. I will be seeking to achieve a balance at Council between maximising the fishing possibilities for Ireland next year, while ensuring that conservation objectives are met through the setting of sustainable TACS, geared to protecting the long-term viability of stocks. I have also been working at EU level to improve control and enforcement. New control measures are presently being finalised which will strengthen the existing control and enforcement regime. New technical measures to protect juvenile stocks have also been agreed by Council. I assure the Deputy that I am working on all fronts to achieve the protection of fish stocks around our coast in order that the future of fishermen and communities dependent on fishing is secured.
