Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the different organisations and bodies that have made presentations here. We are not talking about the fishing industry but only about the inshore sector, the islands, the coast and a specific issue concerning aquaculture. The organisations have given some very useful information. It gives an optimistic view of the potential that lies off our shores, which many living on the coast have known for decades. Some may not recognise it, but managed well, it has the potential to create a lot of economic activity in areas which the IDA and Enterprise Ireland largely ignore. That is why it is important that we get accurate information and that the projections are sustainable and will lead to achievable policies for those communities.

Many of our inshore fisheries aim at non-TAC species, for which there is no quota. Can Dr. Connolly see any way for his organisation, the Marine Institute, to support further an inshore sector that would not be affected by TACs? He might also outline some of the issues that have arisen. Where I come from I often hear that the science does not match the experience or the perception. There is a lag. I know the present Minister is serious in saying that where the science supports it he will look for an increase in quotas, but not where the science does not support it. We are dealing then with the precautionary principle. Will Dr. Connolly outline for us how long it takes, typically, from the point at which the Marine Institute identifies an issue for it to go to ISIS-Fish, or through the Commission, the Council and the whole EU structure, before coming back to the Irish legislature through an instrument that can be used on the ground? Our perception is that the process takes up to four years. That is a pinch point on which coastal communities need some clarification. It is interesting that Dr. Connolly identified two of the most valuable stocks, and there are many, maybe 30 or 40. Historically, mackerel sustained inshore communities, but now it is in the offshore sector. Does Dr. Connolly see any potential, using the science he has studied, to allow the development of an inshore fishery that is not covered by TAC?

I have some questions for Mr. Whooley of BIM. Fisheries are quite limited. By and large there is no great potential for increased quotas or stocks. It will remain static. The potential to increase our activity in these sectors is very limited but aquaculture has potential for coastal communities. We are coming from a very low base. The Norwegians and the Scots have been dealing with the same EU legislation as we have since 1973, the same issues with Natura sites and the same natural environment, the eastern Atlantic. The same people are involved, they have come from the same base but they have done ten times more work. They are years ahead of us.

I reserve the right to raise this again if there is a second round of questions, but the big issue is licences. Could we get some idea of the number of licences that have been applied for on Natura and other sites, if that data is available? I am aware that there is a significant project off the Aran Islands, but we could spread this around. It is becoming a serious issue around the coast.

I was particularly interested in the presentation by the SFPA. As the watchdog for the fisheries it has had a difficult job in creating a dialogue and mutual respect between the industry and the regulators. I am particularly pleased that it has identified areas where the inshore fleet in particular would benefit from appropriate interpretation of directives or measures that the offshore fleet deals with every day. I welcome an expansion of those programmes, particularly when one sees the number of vessels in the fleet. There is no correlation between the number of vessels and the value of the landings. Many have low overheads. There is a living to be made, more or less, if they want to be left alone as long as they are licensed to do what they are doing and they are compliant and not having an impact on other people. I welcome the SFPA's approach to this. It might be useful to examine areas where this could be expanded to promote sustainable fishing.

I am not as familiar as some members of the committee with Údarás and would like to know if it supports projects in onshore processing that would tie in with the inshore fisheries and add value to the work of the local guys who are landing there. Would they have ownership or could they invest in their own processing facilities in those areas? That would be very helpful.