Since its establishment in late 1988, the national CFP strategy review group has produced three reports. The first report recommended national investment priorities for the seafood industry, 2000-06, and this was effectively delivered through the Government allocation of funding of £171 million to the seafood sector under the national plan. The second report focused on the need for additional technical conservation measures in order to secure a sustainable future for European fisheries. In fully endorse this report and have conveyed it to Commissioner Fischler who has undertaken to have it examined by his services. I recently launched the third report of the group which addresses fisheries control and enforcement aspects of the CFP where greater transparency and consistency across all member states is a key priority for me and the fishing industry.
The group will submit a comprehensive report on CFP review strategies to me later this year which will directly contribute to and inform the Irish negotiating position in the run up to and during the CFP review.