Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 17 Apr 2002

Vol. 552 No. 1

Written Answers. - Fishing Fleet Capacity.

Alan M. Dukes

Ceist:

90 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the situation regarding the recent EU formal notice of 8,322 KW overcapacity in the Irish pelagic segment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11484/02]

Alan M. Dukes

Ceist:

91 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the way in which the withdrawal of the MFV Veronica from the Irish fishing register and the transfer of the quota and fishing effort entitlements associated with the vessel to the MFV Atlantic Dawn will impinge on the EU Commission's notification of overcapacity in the Irish pelagic segment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11485/02]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Fahey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together.

The formal notice related to the excess power in the pelagic segment of the Irish fishing fleet. The present position is that the excess power sit uation has been substantially addressed and the residual excess is now being resolved.

The deletion of the fishing vessel MFVVeronica from the fishing boat register has permanently removed 5,850 KWs from the pelagic segment. This represents a significant contribution by the Atlantic Dawn company to resolving the outstanding power overcapacity in the Irish pelagic segment. The vessel was permanently withdrawn from the Irish-EU fleet as part of an overall agreement which enabled the Atlantic Dawn vessel to be fully licensed and registered on the Irish and EU fishing boat registers. The Commission's agreement to adjust Ireland's pelagic fleet objectives to facilitate the introduction of the Atlantic Dawn was subject to resolution of the overcapacity problem in the pelagic segment. The retention by the Atlantic Dawn company of its annual quota and effort entitlement in EU waters as part of the overall agreement with the company is not directly relevant to the power overcapacity issue.

Those pelagic vessels with excess engine capacity have been required to resolve the excess and resolution is expected to be achieved shortly. The EU Commission will progress a further technical decision removing the balance of the excess capacity because the pelagic fleet is operating an effort reduction regime. Similar decisions have been processed for other member states. The pelagic segment will be within its power objective as soon as both of these actions are finalised.