Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 April 2018
24. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the future capacity restrictions (details supplied) he plans to implement for Irish vessels fishing in area VIa in order to ensure the conservation of stocks and allow for the rational exploitation of the stocks in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17607/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the EU Fisheries Council in 2008 adopted a Cod Recovery Plan, which was set out in Council Regulation (EC) No. 1342/2008 and which established a long-term plan for cod stocks, and the fisheries exploiting those stocks. This Regulation governs Cod Effort Management in ICES areas 6a and 7a.
The EU Commission proposal for the North Sea Management Plan has been under consideration by the Council and European Parliament since 2016, including the issue of repealing Council Regulation 1342/2008.
The Parliament, Council and Commission in December 2017 finalised the provisions of the Management Plan and one of the outcomes is that Regulation 1342 of 2008 will be repealed.
Consequently, it is expected that later this year, possibly by May 2018, that the Cod Effort Management arrangements and its KW ceiling restrictions will no longer apply and the use of track record for vessels to access areas 6a and 7a will no longer be required.
Technical Measure requirements will continue to apply as set out in EC Regulation 850/98 as amended by EU regulation 812 of 2015.
In the context of the repeal of the EU Regulation, the introduction of any replacement fishing effort scheme would be a matter for national consideration and could only be justified for the purposes of protecting, conserving or allowing the sustainable exploitation of the cod stocks in Areas 6a or 7a. As these are shared fishing stocks at EU level, I would have concerns about the case for introducing such national measures applicable only to Irish vessels. In the context of the cod stock in Area 6a, there is a zero quota and only by-catches of 1.5% of the total catch may be retained on board and landed. The by-catch in the Irish fishing fleet in terms of both landings and discards, is I understand small, but the Marine Institute advise that there is a high by-catch of cod in the fleets of other Member States. In that regard, the EU Commission has published proposals for a Multi- Annual Plan for Western Waters which include both Area 6a and 7a stocks. This plan will be negotiated within the Council and European Parliament over the coming months and the aim of the plan is to contribute to achieving fishing at sustainable levels. The measures introduced under this plan will apply to all Member States operating in these areas.
