Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2022
761. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will assign an equal mackerel allocation of the per eligible boat around the coast using monthly fishery authorisations to under 15 metre boats on the Irish polyvalent general register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24343/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraManagement of the national mackerel quota is set down in Ministerial Policy. In accordance with policy, in 2022, 13% of the national annual mackerel quota (6,739 tonnes in 2022) is available for the polyvalent segment. An allocation of 400 tonnes for a fishery for smaller vessels (under 15 metre vessels) fishing for Mackerel by means of hooks and line is also set down in Policy in 2010. The 400 tonnes is taken off the top of the annual national quota and does not come out of the 13% polyvalent quota. The management policy for polyvalent vessels was put in place by the Minister in 2010 after a full review and public consultation. It recogonised the divergent interests of groups of fishing vessels, including their history in the fishery.
There are 4 categories of polyvalent vessels permitted to land mackerel:
1. and 2. Tier 1 and Tier 2 vessels
Mackerel Policy provides that 76.50% of the 13% (5,155 tonnes in 2022) is made available to 15 Tier 1 vessels, and 21% of the 13% (1,415 tonnes in 2022) is made available to 12 Tier 2 vessels. Access to Tier 1 and Tier 2 catch limits was determined using track record set down in 2010. Tier 1 and Tier 2 vessels receive a catch limit for the period 01 January to 30 November each year.
3. Under 18 metre vessels (including under 15 metre vessels) fishing for mackerel by means other than hook and line
The remaining 2.50% of the 13% quota available for polyvalent vessels (168 tonnes in 2022) is made available to under 18 metre vessels (including under 15 metre vessels) fishing for mackerel by means other than hook and line. Catch limits are set by monthly Fisheries Management Notice. The catch limit for the month of May is 3 tonnes. This catch limit is open to all polyvalent vessel under 18 metres in length overall fishing for mackerel by means other than hook and line.
4. Under 15 metre vessels fishing for Mackerel by means of hooks and line
The management arrangements, within national policy, for the mackerel hook and line fishery have been on the agenda and discussed with industry representatives at recent meetings of the Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC). It is important to note that the remit of the QMAC is to examine and make recommendations within Ministerial policy. I asked the QMAC to examine measures to strengthen the management arrangements for the 2022 Mackerel hook and line fishery, within the policy, for my consideration.
A working group involving industry representatives recommended by the QMAC and the Department was formed and led to recommendations for the management of the 2022 Fishery which were supported by the QMAC and which I have approved. The arrangements involve:
- The available quota for the mackerel hook and line fishery for 2022 is 400 tonnes, in accordance with policy.
- The 2022 mackerel hook & line fishery opened by Fisheries Management Notice for all eligible vessels under 15 metres in length overall on 1st May 2022. Vessels equal to or greater than 10 metres in length overall must book-in to receive an authorisation for the fishery. Vessels under 10 metres in length overall are not required to book-in to the fishery.
- As a condition of their authorisation, vessels equal to or greater than 10 metres are required to hail quantities over 50kg to the Irish Fisheries Monitoring Centre. This requirement is included in the authorisation document.
- A catch limit of 3 tonnes for under 15 metre fishing boats fishing mackerel by means of hooks and lines has been set out in a Fisheries Management Notice for May.
- The fishery is to be closed by Fisheries Management Notice for the month of May when the Department has been advised by the SFPA that 150 tonnes has been taken.
- Remaining quota to be allocated across June and subsequent months. Recommendations on per vessel catch limits for June and subsequent months to be made at the relevant preceding Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC) meeting.
