Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question, which has been raised with me on many occasions by fishermen. Bluefin tuna is a highly migratory large pelagic species which spawns in the Mediterranean and then migrates over a wide area of the north-east Atlantic to feed.  This migration brings some of the fish into the Irish 200-mile zone for part of the year, as we discussed previously. At the time we see the fish in the Irish zone, there are also fish being caught in the international high seas and over a wide area from Spain all the way up to Norway.  There is no survey from which the abundance in Ireland's 200-mile zone may be determined.

Ireland does not have a national quota for bluefin tuna, as the Deputy indicated.  The available bluefin tuna quota is allocated each year to member states on the basis of relative stability, as established in the late 1990s.  At that time, Ireland did not have a track record of commercial fishing for bluefin tuna and, accordingly, did not receive a quota allocation.  A small bluefin tuna by-catch quota is available to Ireland, primarily for use in our important northern Albacore tuna fishery and Celtic Sea herring fishery, where there can be bluefin tuna by-catches.

In 2018, Ireland was successful, for the first time, in securing agreement that allowed countries without a commercial quota to set up a catch-tag-release fishery to contribute to the collection of scientific data. A catch-tag-release science-based fishery for authorised recreational angling vessels has been in place since 2019. It supports the collection of valuable data on the migratory patterns of bluefin tuna in Irish waters.

The only way to obtain a share of the EU quota now would involve changing relative stability within the EU. The EU percentage share of the international total allowable catch is set down. There is no likelihood that an international country will concede any share to the EU. This means that EU member states with a national quota would have to give up a share of their allocation to Ireland.

The European Commission has advised that it intends to commence the Common Fisheries Policy review process when there is clarity on the future relationship between the EU and the UK. The review is expected to be detailed and comprehensive. It is expected that all stakeholders will have an opportunity to engage actively in the review work including the fishing industry and member states. I will consider how Ireland will prepare for and participate actively and effectively in the review, including the interaction with stakeholders to prepare Ireland's case and identify priorities.

See this speech in context