Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 May 2017
1165. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider changing the criteria relating to the allocation of herring and mackerel quotas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19435/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to mackerel quota, as the Deputy may be aware, I received a request from the Irish South and West Fish Producer Organisation to allocate the increase over 2016 of Ireland’s mackerel quota for 2017 entirely to the Polyvalent Segment on a 1 year pilot basis in exchange for the recipient vessels forgoing demersal fishing in order to gauge the impact on the demersal vessels.
This matter has generated a lot of discussion in the industry and the Minister has received many representations on the matter. After having carefully considered the matter, I decided that, without prejudice, there is a case for a review of the policy on allocations between the RSW Pelagic segment and the polyvalent segment of the fleet, taking account of request by the IS&WFO. In that regard, I decided that I am restricting consideration to the increased quota for Ireland in 2017 over that in 2016.
It is important to note that I have not made any decision at this time to change the allocations between the segments in respect of this part of the quota. All relevant issues will be carefully evaluated and subject to a full consultation with stakeholders before I decide if any amendment to the policy is justified for the proper and effective management of the mackerel fishery.
The public consultation process concluded on 28th February 2017 and 353 submissions were received. All submissions are currently being evaluated.
To support transparency in this process, it is intended that all views received on the Consultation Document and/or any clarification provided will be publicly made available on the Department’s website. Following the closure of the formal consultation process, any meeting that may be held with stakeholders will be open to all interested stakeholders that have engaged in the public consultation.
In relation to herring quota, as the Deputy may be aware, the Herring fishery consists of the Atlanto-Scandian Herring (ASH) Fishery, the Celtic Sea Herring (CSH) Fishery, the North West Herring (NWH) Fishery and the Irish Sea Herring Fishery. Revised policy in relation to the management of herring stocks was announced in June 2012 following intensive consultation with industry and other key stakeholders
The Deputy may be particularly interested in the NWH fishery. In this regard, the access arrangements for vessels to the main fishery were established in 2012 based on track record in 2010 and earlier years. This is an autumn fishery and vessels eligible for this fishery are allocated an annual allocation. Up to 5% of the quota is also made available for vessels under 20m without a track record on the basis of modest monthly catch limits. However, this policy for North West herring was set aside on an exceptional basis in 2016 following consultation with stakeholders to facilitate a wide scale scientific stock assessment, the main focus of which was to sample the stock. With this in mind, the overall adjusted quota for Ireland in 2016 was 2,703 tonnes and for 2017 is 2,112 tonnes. Arrangements for the 2017 North West herring fishery to support continued data collection will be considered in consultation with stakeholders.
Quotas are made available to the owners of licensed sea fishing boats by me in line with the provisions of the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006 as amended. It is a matter for the owners of fishing vessels to decide the port of landing and I have no role in that regard.
