Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2012
541. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will respond to the following query regarding herring fishing (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49677/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Celtic Sea Herring Management Advisory Committee (CSHMAC) has been in place for a number of years to advise the Minister on the management arrangements for the stock. The Committee comprise representatives of industry and processors and is chaired by the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation (IS&WFPO). The Department is not represented on the Committee nor is any other State agency. However, the Marine Institute advises the Committee from time to time on scientific issues relating to the stock and was very involved with the Committee in the preparation of a Rebuilding Plan for the Stock which was accepted by the Minister and submitted to the EU Commission.
As part of the recovery plan for Celtic Sea Herring stock the CSHMAC recommended the establishment in 2006 of a restricted fishery for vessels under 50ft in overall length in the Dunmore East spawning area to assist with the provision of scientific information on the stock. From 2007 to 2011, 8% of the overall Celtic Sea Herring quota was allotted to the fishery. In the years to 2007 to 2010 an average of 25 vessels booked into the fishery, a number of which subsequently chose not to participate. In 2011 this increased to 40 vessels and in 2012 the number booking in increased to 72 vessels , most of these vessels, including the one referred to by the Deputy had never participated in the Sentinel Fishery before.
As part of the revised Ministerial policy on Celtic Sea Herring announced in June 2012, the proportion of Herring quota allocated to the Sentinel was increased to 11% of the national quota, which is the maximum amount that the fishery can sustain as advised by the Marine Institute. At the same time a whitefish and shellfish preclusion was introduced for participants for the duration of the fishery.
As the maximum quota to this fishery is restricted by the scientific advice available, the possible quota allocations are greatly impacted of the number of vessels booking in.
The CSHMAC having regard to the number of vessels booking-in and the amount of quota available recommended a set of management arrangements agreed by all the industry representatives on the committee for 2012. I accepted these recommendations.
In view of the changes to herring fisheries in 2012, I provided vessels booked into the fishery with the opportunity to book out of the fishery, without penalty by Friday 9 November as the quota available was known at the time. The vessel referred to by the Deputy did not exercise this option.
The vessel in question measures less than 30ft in length overall, therefore under the current agreed management arrangements the vessel falls into the <30 ft category for quota allocation. These arrangements in place were recommended by the CSHMAC.
The Department brought the matter to the attention of the CSHMAC who have advised the size categories are set out are on a pilot basis for 2012 and the committee proposes to propose changes to area of categorisation for 2013 including the issue of imperial Vs decimal vessel sizing.
Until I have an opportunity to examine the proposals from the CSHMAC and decide on clarifications if any to the current situation, the imperial measurement system will continue to apply. It is important to point out that any changes introduced will be based on a full evaluation taking account of the situation of all vessels and the proper and rational management of this fishery. Accordingly, the possible impact of any changes on individual vessels can not be anticipated.
