Vol. 577 No. 3
381 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if under the new fishing licensing policy a days at sea or fishing effort regime still applies to the pelagic sector of the Irish fishing fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31285/03]
The current position is that a fishing effort – days at sea – regime remains in place for vessels in the RSW pelagic fleet segment. Following agreement of a new Common Fisheries Policy at last year's Fisheries Council, the Commission adopted new implementing rules for fleet management in August 2003. These rules do not specifically provide for the continuation of the effort regimes provided for under the EU multi annual guidance programme IV which provided for, inter alia, an effort regime for the RSW pelagic segment of the Irish fleet. The continuation of the current effort regime for this segment of the fleet is now a matter of national competence. Policy Directive 2/2003 on national licensing policy does not propose any change to the current policy on fishing effort in respect of the RSW pelagic segment. I have asked that this issue be considered by the sea-fishing boat licensing policy review group before I make any decision on a possible change in the current policy in this regard.
382 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of fishing vessels within the active pelagic and active polyvalent sectors that, for different reasons were short replacement capacity during the six year period to 30 June 2003; and the names of such vessels that were licensed or permitted to fish at any time during such period. [31286/03]
Seven fishing vessels in the pelagic segment in respect of which replacement capacity requirements were not fully met were granted sea-fishing boat licences on a short-term basis in the period concerned. The names of these vessels are as follows: Aine, Antarctic, Atlantean, Brendelen, Fr. McKee, Neptune, and Western Viking. The owners of these vessels had claimed that the tonnage shortfall involved related to safety capacity. The European Commission, earlier this year, turned down their safety capacity applications. The new sea-fishing boat licensing policy sets out the particular replacement capacity requirements which must be met in order for these vessels to continue to be licensed.
I am not aware of any vessels in the polyvalent segment having been licensed in the period concerned without full replacement capacity requirements having been considered to have been complied with. I understand, however, that there was one case where an issue arose subsequent to licensing as to whether a portion of replacement capacity had originally been assigned to the licensee. This matter has been pursued with the individual concerned.
