Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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63. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the recent International Council for the Exploration of the Seas, ICES, mackerel advice which shows a further increase on its revised ICES scientific advice given in May 2019 for the mackerel total allowable catch, TAC, for 2020; if assurance will be given to the marine sector that this new advice of 922,064 tonnes will be fully incorporated in the overall TAC quotas for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41761/19]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Minister for his views on the recent ICES mackerel advice which shows a further increase in the revised scientific advice given in May 2019 for the mackerel TAC for 2020. I also ask whether he will give an assurance to the marine sector that this new advice of 922,000 tonnes will be fully incorporated into the overall TAC quotas for 2020.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Mackerel is Ireland’s most important fishery economically and a healthy mackerel stock is essential for the Irish pelagic fleet and pelagic processing industry. The ICES catch advice for mackerel stock for 2020 was published on 1 October 2019. ICES has advised that the catches for 2020 by all parties, including those which operate outside the 2014 mackerel agreement, should not exceed 922,064 tonnes. This would equate to a 41% increase on the 2019 TAC of 653,438 tonnes agreed by the parties to the 2014 agreement, that is, the European Union, Norway and the Faroe Islands.

The 2019 TAC was set following a precautionary approach in applying the scientific advice available at the time. This was a 20% reduction compared with 2018 and the decision was taken in light of an ICES decision to undertake a complete review of the assessment methodology used to calculate the advice. That review resulted in new advice for 2019 being issued by ICES in May 2019. Following the publication of this new advice, two further coastal states meetings were organised. Ireland, along with most other EU member states, sought to revise the 2019 mackerel TAC. Unfortunately, it did not prove possible to achieve agreement between the coastal states on a mid-year upward revision of the TAC.

It is important to remember that overall catches have exceeded the scientific advice for the stock in recent years due to the unilateral actions of certain parties. If this situation continues, the long-term sustainability of the stock will be at risk. Representatives of the mackerel coastal states, namely, the EU, Norway, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland, are scheduled to meet from the 15 to 17 October in London. The ICES advice for 2020 will form the basis for these discussions.

In my view, there is absolutely no reason for the full advice not to be applied and this is the position that we will be arguing for at the consultations in London. Ireland, as always, will be represented by officials from my Department with scientific support from the Marine Institute.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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It is very concerning that ICES is getting its advice so wrong. The advice it gave last year, which contributed to the formulation of the 2019 TAC, was off the mark by 50% in respect of mackerel. The decision in May to revise the TAC advice from ICES to 20%, as the Minister stated, was not incorporated into the TAC for the Irish fishing fleet. It is now essential that we see the full advice from ICES for this year, which refers to catches of 922,000 tonnes for mackerel, and that should be the mark used to determine the TAC for the Irish fleet for this year. It is essential that the baseline for the 20% increase recommended by ICES is the revised position it gave in May and not the 2019 TAC, as agreed and set at the end of last year.

The Minister indicated his position on ensuring that the total catch is 922,000 tonnes, which is the correct one and one which we support. Can he enlighten us on his engagement so far with other states as to the likelihood of that being the TAC at European level with partner states for the coming year?

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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It would be unfortunate if the impression was to go out that ICES science is wayward or not reliable. Broadly speaking that is not the case, but there was an acceptance that it would review the methodology applied to mackerel last year. That has resulted in advice that would facilitate an increase, even if it did not issue until mid-year.

I have spoken to my officials, who will be in these negotiations, which are taking place in London. They will pursue the new level of advice. Obviously, the ICES advice will detail individual allocations. In many respects, it is every state for itself and its respective industries so we will be trying to extract the best possible deal for our pelagic fleet in the context of the scientific advice available to us, which is welcome. It is important to reflect that the ICES advice is informed by bodies like the Marine Institute, which conducts research in our areas on our behalf and is involved in the general advice that is available to the Commission for the December Council or indeed for the allocation of mackerel quotas.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I emphasise the importance of ensuring that it is off the ICES advice regarding the figure of 955,000 this year. If that updated figure is used, the equivalent impact on the Irish fishing fleet would be a total allowable catch for mackerel in 2020 of 77,500 tonnes as opposed to just over 55,000 tonnes. This would be a net benefit of €40 million for the mackerel sector so the stakes are quite high. The fact that the additional mackerel quota allocated by ICES as a result of the revised estimates in the middle of this year was not figured and built into this year's total allowable catch has resulted in €20 million less in respect of the value of mackerel for this year. We support the Government. It is essential that the full impact of the revised estimate is the actual outcome as a result of the talks for the total allowable catch for 2020.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for his support. We will keep him informed of developments as they occur in the Council.