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

I very much welcome the Minister's response. We are not trying to unwind the landing obligation or the discard ban. It is difficult, but there is no turning back and this is the reality which must be dealt with. Throwing fish back is abhorrent to fishermen; what they do is catch fish. They are not there to throw them back and they do not want to throw them back. They would wish to have a mechanism whereby they do not have to do this, and this is it.

The point I am making is there are real difficulties as envisaged by fishermen, particularly in the demersal sector. If one has a whiting quota but not a haddock quota, it is very difficult to segregate the species. I accept the Minister's response. It is a new departure for everyone, including the Department, the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, SFPA, and the fishing sector. The reason I am raising this on the floor of the Dáil is, exactly as the Minister said, that phasing it in is the correct way to do it. There will be hurdles to cross between now and 1 January, and over the coming year or two. I am pleased the Minister has said the Department will be accommodating in every way it can to help the sector and I urge that this is so. Getting to maximum sustainable yield in fisheries is the right policy. Without fish there is no fishing industry, and I and the sector fully agree with this. It will take some difficult decisions and new management processes to deal with this.

The feeling on the ground is one of uncertainty and doubt because, as the Minister recognises, the demersal sector is not the jewel of the crown of the fishing industry. It has had difficult times. One could argue the fleet is at overcapacity. The quota we have is simply not viable for many of the vessels, which are small. On top of this, the issue of dealing with landing obligation is creating real doubt and concern in much of the demersal sector and for this reason it is only fair to bring it before the House. I accept and I hope the Department, Dr. Noel Cawley's implementation group and the industry will come together to find real solutions to the obstacles which lay ahead. This is the right thing to do but it is very difficult, and this needs to be recognised in full by all stakeholders.

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