Vol. 577 No. 4
90 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the likely agenda and his priorities for the meeting of the European Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers on 17-19 December 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31251/03]
The setting of total allowable catches and quotas for 2004 is the main fisheries item to be considered at the Council meeting on 17-19 December 2003. In so far as Ireland is concerned, this means the setting of catch limits for Irish fishermen in respect of some 40 fish stocks, mainly in western waters around Ireland's coast. The European Commission has recently made proposals in this regard involving an average reduction in TAC levels of approximately 9% against 2003.
In addition to discussing TACs and quotas for 2004, Ministers will also be discussing recovery measures for a number of whitefish stocks, particularly cod and hake, which are considered to be outside safe biological limits. The recovery plans include proposals for limiting fishing effort – days at sea – for the Irish Sea and for the west of Scotland, including waters off the north west of Ireland. I am maintaining close contact with industry representatives in these negotiations in relation to recovery plans to ensure that appropriate strategies for these recovery plans are agreed that provide for both the recovery of the stocks outside safe biological limits and sustainable fishing opportunities for fishermen affected by the recovery plans.
The priority for Ireland in the forthcoming Council is to achieve a balanced outcome that will provide for a sustainable future for the Irish fishing industry. The need to take effective conservation measures so that fish stocks are managed and exploited on a sustainable basis is an overriding imperative for both the Government and the Irish fishing industry. Within that context, the primary aim will be to ensure that Irish fishermen all around the coast will have available to them the maximum possible quantity and range of fishing possibilities in 2004 that can be justified on a sustainable basis.
