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

I welcome the two speakers. As Deputy Martin Ferris stated, we come from fishing areas. I was born and reared in Castletownbere and I am familiar with both sides of the delegates' argument in terms of the larger fleet that operates from Castletownbere. There is also a huge inshore fleet, a forgotten fleet.

Interestingly, the presentation goes to the core of what the committee was established to investigate. The problems highlighted by Mr. O'Corcora are fundamental in determining how the committee should do its work and produce its report. Other sectors such as aquaculture have representative bodies, NGOs and even Departments looking after their interests. While they are not perfectly served, they are better served than the inshore fleet. We should carry out an exercise in this regard. Mr. O'Corcora, as with us all, will realise that the fleet capacity is set. So many tonnes and kilowatts are allowed and that is the way it is. If one had estimates of the numbers of jobs per tonne and kilowatt provided by the inshore and other fleets, they would tell a very interesting story. One should bear in mind that coastal communities have been ravaged by emigration and the lack of opportunities that could be provided. Perhaps the committee could carry out this exercise in its deliberations and put the matter under the spotlight.

Fishing gets very bad press nationally and internationally. The one exception is the inshore fleet. Celebrity chefs and all those who seem to have an inordinate say in the media point to the inshore fleet because the fishery is sustainable and provides a living for families and support for communities - no more and no less. The industry has much potential and this needs to be recognised. If the committee did nothing other than recognise the potential of the inshore fleet, it would be a very good start.

There is conflict, as we know. Everything is not rosy in the garden because really delicate and sensitive management are required, even within the inshore fleet, to produce a policy or consensus. Added to this are the competing interests of the larger vessels from the polyvalent, pelagic, beam and aquaculture sectors. In addition, there is bureaucracy in the Department and Government policy. Although I question why one would start at all, a start is needed. Today's testimony is a good start.

The driftnet ban in respect of salmon fishing was referred to. Mr. Michael Keatinge of BIM testified that this could be examined. He said that, using scientific information from the Marine Institute, for example, we could revisit these issues. He excluded Aran Mór, for whatever reason, because the salmon run there is different. I would welcome a re-examination.

There is an inevitability about the policy on days at sea. I was at a meeting yesterday morning in Castletownbere and noted that, irrespective of how the discard ban will be operated and administered, the days at sea concept was becoming part of the conversation. I believed I would never hear about it. It is coming from the industry. One must talk about proposals. The idea will be unpopular in some quarters and might be supported in others, but, at least, if one discusses concepts such as ring-fencing fisheries and additions to licences, there is merit in it.

I heard an interesting proposal on banning pelagic fishing entirely from March to May or June for all fleets. This effort would give more challenged species a chance, particularly when breeding.

I am very interested in the proposals on substituting the V-notching, seeding for scallops and whatever else can be done. The schemes are very progressive. There was a scheme for scallops and reasonable success. Schemes should be re-examined. If they provide for a 20% increase in effort, it would be very much welcomed.

The seal debate will be very contentious. As Deputy Martin Ferris stated, people really do not understand the issues involved. Tourists might like to see seals on the rocks, but a seal that goes to a driftnet will take one bite out of every fish. It will take a bite out of the belly of the first fish, move onto the next one and take a bite out of its belly and continue in that vein, thus decimating stocks. If that is the natural approach, it is difficult to deal with, but seals need to be managed in some shape or form. It is about striking a balance between what is environmentally sound and what is economically sustainable for communities.

All the presentations to the committee have been valuable but this presentation gets to the nub of what we are trying to do as a committee. Many inshore fisheries may be represented through their POs but their voices are not being heard through their POs, organisations or communities, as they should be. I hope the problems identified and solutions proposed by Mr. O'Corcora will inform our report in due course.