Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 530: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there is scope for reviewing the rules that apply to Lough Swilly fishermen in view of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority restrictions on fishing for cod, haddock and whiting, pursuant to Council regulation 43/2009; his views on whether the specifications for square mesh panels are arbitrary in view of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea VIs variety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27623/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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At the 2008 December Fisheries Council, restrictions on whitefish fishing in the west of Area VI (waters west of Donegal and off Scotland) were introduced for the first time under Council Regulation No. 43/2009. These restrictions include establishing minimum mesh sizes to be used by vessels fishing in the west of area VIa and requiring that these vessels' fishing gear incorporate square mesh panels in certain circumstances.

The Commission has made clear that it considers that these measures are essential for fisheries conservation. These measures were also included as part of the EU Commission's broader 2008 proposal to harmonise Technical Conservation Measures (TCMs) for fisheries. This proposal failed to be adopted during the Fisheries Council in November 2009, however.

Following this development, a new proposal, which continued existing technical measures on a temporary basis (for 2010 and the first six months of 2011), was adopted at the end of November 2009. The adoption of new TCMs measures will now be a matter for the Council and EU Parliament under the co-decision procedure. The Commission has advised that it will bring forward new proposals in this regard in association with the Common Fisheries Policy reform proposals.

During 2009, Ireland sought a number of practical changes Ireland to the technical measures that would help alleviate their impacts on the Irish fleet. The changes sought were based on discussions held with fishing industry representatives. Minister of State Connick is continuing to work to deliver critical changes to the restrictions on the basis of a commitment from the EU Commission secured at the December 2008 Fisheries Council for a review and early amendment of the restrictions on whitefish fishing off Donegal.