Fishing Industry

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 April 2022

Tuesday, 5 April 2022

Ceisteanna (892, 893, 894)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

892. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the quota of Irish fishing vessels in Irish territorial waters under the Common Fisheries Policy. [17502/22]

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

893. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the quota of Irish fishing vessels in the territorial waters of other European Union member states under the Common Fisheries Policy by European Union member state in tabular form. [17503/22]

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

894. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the quota of fishing vessels from European Union member states in Irish territorial waters under the Common Fisheries Policy by European Union member state and species in tabular form. [17504/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 892, 893 and 894 together.

Under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), EU fishing fleets are given equal access to EU waters and fishing grounds subject to allocated fish quotas. There are derogations to this access rule, including restrictions on access to Member States' coastal waters.

In Ireland’s case, other than Northern Irish vessels under Voisinage Agreement, no EU Member State or Third Country has access to our 0-6 nautical miles zone. Foreign fishing vessels are excluded from the 6-12 nautical miles zone on our North-west Coast, from Lough Foyle to Eris Head, and along the South-west Coast between Mizen Head and Sybil Point. France, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium have access for specific species in various areas of the 6-12 nautical mile zone along Ireland’s West, East and South coasts. Ireland does not have access to any other Member States’ 6-12 nautical mile zones.

Last year, the European Commission published a proposal to rollover, for another ten years, the provisions relating to the restrictions on access to Member States' 6-12 nautical miles zones, as set out in the CFP Regulation (Regulation (EU) No. 1380/2013). I am seeking an extension of the 6 and 12 nautical miles zones out to 12 and 20 miles, respectively. I believe that there is a strong case to be made to increase the protections for Ireland’s fishing fleets in these waters, particularly against the background of Brexit.

Quotas for the various stocks are allocated for management areas - that is, an ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Seas) area or a part thereof - and not Member States' Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ). Generally, most stock areas straddle more than one EEZ area. These stock areas can include Member States' EEZs, third countries' EEZs and international waters.

For example, the Total allowable Catch (TAC) area for the Hake Stock is ICES Areas 6 and 7 which stretches from the north of Scotland south to the north coast of Brittany, and into the English Channel. This area includes parts of the UK EEZ, the Irish EEZ, part of the French EEZ and some international waters. Ireland's quota may be fished in any part of this area. Ireland's main Mackerel quota covers ICES Areas 6 and 7 stretching from north of Scotland to the north coast of Brittany and the full quota may be fished in UK waters of the northern North Sea. The access to the northern North Sea is economically important for our fleet.

The share allocation of stocks between Member States was established as a principle of the first CFP in 1983 and was based on the average catch of each Member State over a period of reference years (track record). The only exception to this relates to the Hague Preferences, based on a special recognition agreement of the underdeveloped nature of the Irish fleet and the heavy control responsibility on us when Ireland joined the EU. The share out of TACs set in more recent years has also been mainly based on track record, the most recent of these of importance to Ireland has been boarfish.

The details of the stocks for which Ireland and other Member States have quota in the relevant management areas are set out in the TAC and Quota Regulation each year.

Question No. 893 answered with Question No. 892.

Question No. 894 answered with Question No. 892.