Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 May 2018
207. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the financial supports available for struggling fishermen in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21785/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Deputy is referring to difficulties experienced by fishermen in Kerry in putting to sea because of unsettled weather conditions.
My Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Operational Programme is the vehicle for financial supports to the seafood sector up to 2021. The Programme delivers a wide range of supports for aquaculture, fisheries and seafood processing through a suite of 17 schemes. I have made very considerable funds available to the seafood sector in 2018 through a range of EMFF schemes. In doing so, I secured a very significant commitment from the Exchequer to the EMFF Programme. However, this means that there are no other sources of funds available to me, other than the EMFF, to assist the sector with any support requirements.
The EMFF Regulation (508/2014) provides for a special compensation scheme for fishermen experiencing significant economic losses arising from severe storms etc. Article 35 foresees the establishment by fishermen of a 'Mutual Fund for Adverse Climatic Events and Environmental Incidents'. This Fund would act as a form of mutual insurance for otherwise uninsurable losses, by paying compensation to affiliated fishermen for losses that exceed 30% of the fisherman's annual turnover arising from severe storms and other adverse climatic events, for losses arising from environmental incidents and for the costs of rescue at sea for fishermen or fishing vessels. The Fund must be established and managed by fishermen and be funded through the subscriptions of affiliated fishermen. The compensation would only be available to fishermen affiliated to the Fund. Support to the Fund from the EMFF Programme would be in the form of a contribution to the costs of compensation paid out by the Fund. Depending on the type of vessels or fishermen experiencing losses, EMFF assistance may be as high as 80%. To date, no fishing representatives have proposed to me that they wish to take on responsibility for the establishment of a Mutual Fund. I cannot lawfully establish the Fund on behalf of the sector. When appropriate representatives of the sector are in a position to establish the Fund, my Department and BIM stand ready to assist and advise fishermen and their representatives in any way possible. However, the EMFF does not permit a financial contribution towards the costs of establishment or management of the Fund. In order for such a Fund to be viable, it is likely to be necessary for the fishing sector to strongly support the initiative through widespread affiliation.
