Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:149 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on the plans of his Department in relation to fishing licensing and to ongoing issues relating to fishing tonnage. [22036/03]
Written Answers. - Fishing Vessel Licences.
I assume the Deputy is referring to the licensing of sea fishing boats for commercial fishing. I recently introduced new policy proposals for sea fishing boat licensing. The discussion document concerned, which is available on my Department's Internet website, contains a range of proposals in relation to the licensing of sea fishing boats. These include proposed replacement capacity requirements, which relate to the tonnage and engine power capacity required to be provided before vessels could be licensed.
The new licensing policy proposals arose from the introduction of a new fleet management policy at EU level, and have regard to the overall capacity situation of the Irish fleet. The new policy proposals are designed to ensure, inter alia, that capacity currently held by fishermen “off-register” can be reintroduced into the fleet, and that binding EU fleet capacity limits are complied with.
The new policy proposals have been the subject of consultation with the industry. Having considered the views put forward, I propose to shortly finalise and introduce the new licensing policy. Details of the new policy will be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas and published in Iris Oifigiúil, as required under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003. That Act has established an independent licensing authority, which will implement the new sea fishing boat licensing policy.