Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Fish Quotas.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

127 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if only 7,000 tonnes of the 72,000 tonnes mackeral quota is allocated to fishing boats in the south west; where and to whom the quota mainly is allocated; and his proposals for an equitable allocation to fishermen in the south west. [16495/02]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern):

Arrangements for the management of the mackerel quota have been in place for many years. These arrangements set individual catch limits for the 23 vessels in the dedicated pelagic segment of the Irish fleet. This pelagic fleet is primarily based in the north west at Killybegs.

The vessels outside of the pelagic segment have traditionally caught comparatively small amounts of the stock, normally less than 1,000 tonnes. In 1999-2000, new vessels were introduced into the polyvalent segment of the fleet which are particularly suited to catching pelagic species. As a result of this change my predecessor reviewed the mackerel arrangements taking into account all of the issues and views expressed by the industry. To reflect the changes in the fleet and to balance the interests of all parties in this fishery, a maximum catch limit of 7,000 tonnes of quota mackerel was set for the vessels in the polyvalent segment of the fleet. This represented a significant increase in the mackerel quota available to these vessels which, as the Irish quota could not be increased, was taken off the quota which previously would have been given to the north west pelagic vessels.

In respect of 2002, mackerel catch limits were issued to the Killybegs based pelagic vessels – 65,000 tonnes – with 7,000 tonnes allocated to the south west polyvalent vessels. I have no plans to introduce any further changes to the current arrangements.