Vol. 577 No. 4
216 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which fishery protection patrols, air and sea, are available and sufficient to meet requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31651/03]
Ireland has and continues to make considerable investment to ensure that fishery protection patrols may be carried out effectively on the seas around Ireland. The Common Fishery Policy of the European Union requires the ongoing development of more detailed rules for the conservation of fishery resources. These developments represent a constant challenge to all the agencies engaged in fishery conservation and every effort is made to meet these challenges.
The Deputy's question regarding the availability of fishery protection patrols, air and sea, is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Defence.
217 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the countries or groups currently guilty of the greatest excesses in terms of over-fishing and damage to fish stocks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31652/03]
218 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which he proposes to address the issue of over-fishing and its consequences at EU discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31653/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 218 together.
The Commission has drawn up a scoreboard which details instances of infringements by member states in a number of areas, including overfishing of quotas. I have arranged for a copy of the scoreboard for 2001 and 2002 to be forwarded to the Deputy directly. The Common Fisheries Policy, CFP, contains provisions for member states to take the inspection and enforcement measures necessary to ensure compliance with its rules, including those relating to fishing within the quotas allocated to member states. It also provides for member states to follow up on infringements and to impose sanctions where appropriate. While the precise penalties to be taken are a matter for national legal jurisdiction, it is prescribed that these must act as a deterrent in respect of the offence in question.
Following the review of the CFP last December, a new framework regulation was adopted which provides for a strengthened control and enforcement system to ensure effective implementation of the CFP including the extension of the use of vessel monitoring systems, VMS, and strengthened powers for enforcement officers.
The new Common Fisheries Policy also contains a heightened emphasis on the need to conserve fish stocks and includes, in particular, provisions for the recovery of fish stocks such as cod which are considered to be outside safe biological limits. The Commission's proposals both for the short-term measures and long-term recovery plans provides for a control regime to ensure the effective implementation of such measures. These proposals are being discussed at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council this week. I am fully supportive of strengthened enforcement as a critical element of any recovery plans and will be working during Council to ensure that measures introduced to protect stocks are strongly supported by appropriate control and enforcement measures which must be consistently applied.
219 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the species of fish most endangered and likely to have greatest economic effect on the livelihoods of Irish fishermen in the future; the measures being taken to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31654/03]
The Marine Institute carries out Irish stock monitoring programmes which feed into the work of other scientific bodies to determine the current status of EU fish stocks. On the basis of the most recent advice, there is a serious concern that many stocks appear to be outside safe biological limits. In so far as the areas and species most affected are concerned, there is particular concern about a number of key whitefish stocks of importance to Irish fishermen, in particular cod and whiting in the Irish Sea, cod west of Scotland and northern hake.
Stock recovery measures have been introduced for Irish Sea cod, northern hake and cod in the North Sea and west of Scotland. The Commission has prepared long-term recovery plans for these cod stocks and for northern hake and is preparing plans for other stocks. The long-term cod and northern hake plans are being discussed this week at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels and the Commission has placed great weight on achieving agreement on these plans. Ireland has been at the forefront at EU level in pushing for enhanced technical conservation measures to protect fish stocks. I will continue to push for further systematic action in this regard in the context of discussions on recovery plans. I am arranging to transmit to the Deputy the most recent stock assessment book published by the Marine Institute. The book outlines the current status of the fish stocks of interest to Ireland.
220 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which fishermen's livelihoods are likely to be affected by new days at sea restrictions; the way in which it is proposed to address the resultant loss of income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31655/03]
The Commission's recent expanded proposals to extend the limitations on fishing effort to the Irish Sea and the areas off the north west coast which were not included under this year's restrictions are being discussed this week at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels. The Commission's long-term proposals for cod and hake recovery are also being discussed. In discussions with other member states in the lead-up to Council, Ireland has reiterated its view that fishing effort limitation generally is a blunt instrument which will not provide adequate protection to the cod stock in the Irish Sea which is outside safe biological limits. I will continue to put forward a strong case for a continuation and strengthening of the current recovery plan, based on closed areas and technical measures.
The socio-economic effects of the policies being proposed by the Commission cannot be ignored. I have consistently stressed to my EU Council colleagues and to Commissioner Fischler the severe socio-economic effects that such policies would have, and are having, on Irish fishermen and their families. I will endeavour at this week's Fisheries Council to achieve recovery plans that will provide the appropriate balance between the protection of fish stocks and the livelihoods of fishermen around the coast.
