Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has recognised the value and importance of the inshore fishing sector and has pledged his ongoing commitment to supporting it during his frequent engagement with sector representatives. He has ensured support for the National Inshore Fisheries Forum in the developing and implementing of its own industry-led strategy to raise the profile of the inshore sector, to facilitate its engagement in policy initiatives and to enhance their understanding of management and planning for inshore fisheries.

Furthermore, he has facilitated constructive discussions around industry priorities in exploring new opportunities for diversification. The inshore sector has a role in making recommendations on the allocation of Ireland’s fishing quotas and emerging policies and initiatives through representation on a number of fisheries consultative structures, including the quota management advisory committee. State bodies also provide a range of services to the inshore fleet, including advisory services and stock conservation supports.

During the lifetime of this Government, two producer organisations have been guided to achieving official recognition, which will assist in the development of the sector and market opportunities through production and marketing plans, and will also provide additional representation for inshore fishers to give them a stronger voice.

Aside from the ongoing work on protecting and expanding the fishing opportunities for the inshore sector, the Minister has also consistently provided developmental and financial supports. Under the EMFAF's seafood development programme, there has been significant investment in areas such as capital investment on vessels, grants to fishers to engage in conservation initiatives and public interest projects aimed at ensuring sustainable fishing opportunities now and in future.

The recommendations of the seafood task force, which were shaped by the valuable contributions of representatives from the inshore sector, are being implemented and the Minister has included those directed at inshore fishers among the prioritised schemes. This includes the introduction of the inshore fisheries business model adjustment scheme, for which the Minister has secured €3.7 million in funding and which has resulted in direct payments to ensure fishers of between €2,700 and €4,000.

In addition, the Minister’s introduction of a €1 million inshore marketing scheme will create new and better avenues for the sale of inshore species and achieve higher prices for our fishers.

Meanwhile, the roll-out of a full suite of measures based on task force recommendations will provide new and diverse opportunities for those working in the inshore sector. These supports will be closely followed by the implementation of the EMFAF seafood development programme, which has included a specific and prominent focus on small-scale coastal fisheries.

As a member state of the European Union, there are necessary processes which we must engage with and regulations which we must adhere to in order to develop specific schemes and supports so that we do not interfere with the integrity of the Single Market. While the Minister has already committed to providing funding for the inshore sector through his Department’s EMFAF seafood development programme, the precise nature of these supports will need to be formulated in accordance with these rules, to include processes which have been established, and in accordance with relevant regulations for the management of EMFAF funding.

It would not serve the inshore fishers to propose funding without regard for these processes and the regulations that underpin them. The best way to deliver focused and necessary funding to the sector is to work through the programme that has been adopted by the European Commission and that is exactly what the Minister has been doing. The Minister will continue to engage and will work with representatives of the inshore sector directly to identify precise needs, to develop supports that are both appropriate to the sector and in compliance with the EU regulations and guidelines and to allocate funding on a prioritised basis.

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