John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

The opening of the mackerel fishery for the large RSW pelagic vessels was delayed until the negotiations with the EU Commission were completed and the details of the arrangements were agreed. The discussions dealt with how the 34,802 tonnes of mackerel reported as landed illegally into Scotland by Irish vessels in the 2001-04 period should be paid back. We successfully delivered payback arrangements that minimised the impact on the majority of fishermen who had little or nothing to do with the illegal fishing, set the reductions at reasonable levels and spread these over six years.

At national level, following careful consideration of all the issues involved and having received detailed legal advice from the Attorney General, I implemented a policy that those vessel owners reported as having landed the undeclared mackerel should bear responsibility for their actions. The opening of the fishery at the beginning of the year in advance of the EU negotiations being finalised could have compromised the implementation of this policy.

It is a matter for the Scottish authorities to implement the quota reductions being applied as they see fit. There is a significant difference in the situations. I am advised that the Scottish industry did not challenge the imposition of reductions in respect of large scale illegal landings into Scotland. Certain individuals here have put the Minister under legal notice that they may challenge the deduction of quota from their vessels.

The delay in the opening of the fishery is likely to have substantially benefited processors in Ireland. Mackerel is found in Norwegian waters at the beginning of the year and migrates south towards the waters off Ireland from mid to late January. The late opening has supported higher levels of landings into Ireland. To date this year, 82% of the mackerel landed has been into Ireland for processing here. Last year, when the fishery was opened from 1 of January, only 64% of the mackerel caught during January and February was landed into Ireland. The late opening is good for processors and is also helpful in maintaining jobs in Ireland.

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