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Gnáthamharc

Fishing Discards

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 May 2012

Thursday, 3 May 2012

Ceisteanna (257)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

262 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will acknowledge that discards are the hidden scandal of fisheries industry and the socio-economic data available on this real human crisis is variable in quality and highly questionable and that tackling this crisis has been identified as an urgent need by BIM and North Western Waters Regional Advisory Council; and if he will outline his plans to address this hidden crisis. [22560/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Finding practical and implementable solutions to the wasteful practice of discarding fish is a major priority issue for me. It is an important element of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy which is currently under consideration at the EU Fisheries Council and the EU Parliament. Ireland has been to the forefront in the drive to reduce and eliminate discards and has taken a number of initiatives in this regard. On the 8th of November last, I launched an Irish "discard" atlas, which is a detailed compendium of discards by the Irish Fleet on a stock by stock and area by area basis. The Atlas, compiled by the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara with the support of Irish Industry, outlines potential measures to help reduce discarding.

The Irish fishing industry secured the support of the EU North Western Waters Regional Advisory Council (NWWRAC) for measures to reduce discarding of haddock and whiting in the Celtic Sea at the end of last year. The NWWRAC has submitted these measures to the EU Commission recommending their adoption at EU level as early as possible. The Irish industry has also supported, as an interim measure pending the introduction of the measures at EU level, quota management arrangement that incentivise the use of these measures by the Irish fleet. I have made available to Irish vessels who use the recommended modified fishing gear an additional 40% of haddock and whiting in the Celtic Sea since the beginning of April.

The measures for the Celtic Sea are an important initiative in reducing discards. The Discards Atlas for Irish fisheries was the first publication of it's kind and places Ireland firmly to the fore in the debate on eliminating discards. The Atlas identifies where action needs to be taken, and the potential measures that could be adopted. The Atlas will also inform the process to achieve real change and a significant reduction in discarding within the new Common Fisheries Policy,

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