Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 May 2024
215. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being introduced to incorporate fishermen's traditional knowledge into fisheries co-management, in order to improve knowledge and outcomes. [19694/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe term "co-management" refers to arrangements whereby public administrations, the fisheries sector and relevant stakeholders are involved in the fisheries management process.
Stakeholder engagement is a vital part of fisheries management, both at EU and national level.
Stakeholders, through the Advisory Councils, may submit recommendations or suggestions to the European Commission and Member States on fisheries management matters. In addition, within the framework of regionalisation, the Advisory Councils are fully consulted as part of the process of developing Joint Recommendations such as those relating to the implementation of the landing obligation or on technical measures.
At a national level, stakeholders play an important role in fish quota management through the Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC). Allocations and other arrangements are decided by the Minister on an ongoing basis having regard for the advice of the QMAC. This Committee is a formal consultative committee, involving fishing industry representatives from the catching, inshore and processing sectors.
The QMAC currently meets on a monthly basis. The purpose of these meetings is to make recommendations to the Minister on monthly/bi-monthly/quarterly regimes for particular stocks and industry representatives bring the benefit of their knowledge and experience of fishing to these discussions. As far as possible, I, as Minister, follow the QMAC's recommendations for regimes for particular stocks, subject to the proper management and rational exploitation of our fisheries. The fish quota management system is designed to ensure, having regard to fishing patterns and market conditions, the best possible spread both between fishing vessel operators and in terms of take up of quota during the year.
