My Department has maintained an ongoing close dialogue with the Irish fishermen's organisations concerning the negotiations on the allocation of the blue whiting stock in the north east Atlantic. My Department has brief the industry on the outcome of the recent negotiations in the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission and in the coastal states group and on the forthcoming resumption of negotiations in June.
I am fully aware of the views of our fishermen's organisations on the current blue whiting negotiations. This is an issue of paramount importance to our pelagic sector. The European Commission is leading the negotiations on behalf of the European Union and my Department has taken a very active lead in the formulation of a robust EU position on the issue and has worked to ensure other key member states support our strong line. I have also written to and spoken with Commissioner Fischler to underline the imperative of a tough line by the Commission's negotiating team. The commissioner has confirmed that a strong EU stance is needed in these complex and difficult negotiations.
The NEAFC has agreed that a two pillar model of staged co-operation will drive the process. The first pillar will seek to reach agreement on the allocation and management of blue whiting stocks in the waters of the coastal states, including Norway and the European Union. The second pillar will involve negotiations on the allocation and management of stocks in international waters. The European Union has had a series of discussions with Norway, in which the Irish representatives have been involved, as part of the coastal states group negotiations.
We will continue to highlight the interests of Irish fishermen in the framework of these negotiations and to press the Commission to ensure EU interests are protected.
The task of reaching agreement on this contentious issue will not be an easy one. Current blue whiting catches exceed one million tonnes. The scientists advise that in the medium to long-term catches should not exceed 650,000 tonnes. There are fundamental differences between the parties concerned which featured prominently at the last working group meeting in April of the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission. A further meeting of the Coastal States Group will take place on 14 and 15 June which will try to reach agreement on the first pillar. Any agreement reached will be submitted to the NEAFC in November where it is expected that overall allocations will be decided for next year.
