Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 May 2018
178. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the Common Fisheries Policy conditions in relation to conservation are being observed to the letter and in spirit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23945/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra179. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the EU fisheries conservation policy is achieving targets in respect of all species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23947/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 179 together.
The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) provides the framework for the long term conservation and sustainability of fish stocks around our shores and is designed to ensure the long term sustainability of fishing throughout EU waters.
Key features of the CFP include setting Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas to deliver maximum sustainable yield (MSY) for all target stocks by 2020 as well as a discards ban (Landing Obligation) that will be fully phased in by 2019. These objectives should ultimately lead to healthier fish stocks, higher quotas for both Irish and EU fishermen and more sustainable fishing patterns.
In the European Union as a whole, 53 stocks will be fished at MSY in 2018 which is an improvement from 44 in 2017. As recently as 2009 the number of stocks at MSY was only 5. The rebuilding of many of our stocks is demonstrated by a 34% increase in our whitefish quotas off the north-west coast and a 64% increase in the Irish Sea compared to 5 years ago - both areas where stocks were depleted.
Scientific information on the state of the fisheries exploited by the Irish fleet is compiled by the Marine Institute and is published in the Stock Book each year. The most recent Stock Book, 2017, contains 74 stocks managed under the CFP in which Ireland has a quota share. Of those 74 stocks, 29 were assessed as being sustainably fished in 2017. This number has grown every year since 2013. This in turn leads to the number of stocks being overfished declining from 22 in 2014 to 17 in 2017. The biomass of stocks, the quantity of mature fish in the sea, has also increased. In 2017 there were 27 stocks in a positive state above biomass trigger points. This is an increase over the preceding year of 22.
Ireland intends to continue to work with all stakeholders, Member States and the Commission to build upon this substantial and tangible progress to achieve the ambitious conservation targets set out in the CFP while supporting the communities that depend on a vibrant fishing industry.
