Dáil debates

Thursday, 9 December 2021

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions

Common Fisheries Policy

9:50 am

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question. This is one I have answered on many occasions previously. I welcome the opportunity to clarify this matter again. I hope this information will be helpful to everyone.

Under the CFP, EU fishing fleets are given equal access to EU waters and fishing grounds, subject to allocated fish quotas and the rules of the CFP. There are restrictions on access within the 12-nautical-mile zones of member states, including ourselves. Quotas for the various fish stocks are allocated for management areas, as set out by the scientists of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES, who assess stocks and detail ICES areas. The quotas for various stocks are allocated for those ICES areas, rather than for member states' EEZs. For example, the total allowable catch for the hake stock is in ICES areas 6 and 7, and that area stretches from the north of Scotland down to the northern coast of Brittany and into the English Channel. This area includes parts of the Irish, UK and French EEZs and some international waters. Ireland's quota for that stock may be fished in any part of this area. In addition, Ireland's main mackerel quota covers ICES areas 6 and 7, stretching from the north of Scotland to the north coast of Brittany. The full quota may be fished in UK waters off the northern North Sea, and normally is, because it is fished primarily early in the year and in that area. Access to the northern North Sea in particular is economically important for our fleet for that reason.

Regarding Ireland's 200-mile zone, and the fisheries catch taken there, the Marine Institute has estimated the landings from the Irish EEZ for the top 25 species from 2015 to 2019. These figures show that, overall, Irish vessels take 35.5%, by weight, and 38.8%, by value, of the landings from the Irish EEZ. The total value of Ireland's fish quotas for 2021 is approximately €229 million.

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