John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I thank the Senator for raising a very important issue. I have visited Killybegs on many occasions, and I know of the huge investment made there and the opportunities provided by the coastal waters.

There are three herring stocks of importance to the Irish fleet: the Celtic Sea herring stock, the stock found off the north west of Ireland, and the west of Scotland stock. Ireland has an 86% share of the Celtic Sea stock, 91% of the north west stock and 15% of the west of Scotland stock. Accordingly, these stocks are very important for the Irish fleet and support the fishing industry in local areas. Each year many seasonal jobs are created in the local fish processing companies. Indeed, when I was spokesperson on this issue under the last administration, the lack of support for processing was obvious. This problem has not arisen just in the last 12 months, but has been ongoing for ten years or more. Change cannot happen overnight.

In the Celtic Sea herring fishery, there was a significant collapse of stock in the 1990s. The Celtic Sea herring management advisory committee, comprising representatives of the industry and processors, with the support of the Marine Institute, developed a rebuilding plan for the stock in 2008, which has since been implemented. This plan has led to a reversal of the downward trend in the stock, and it is now being fished sustainably. The Celtic Sea herring management advisory committee has now prepared a management plan which has been submitted for evaluation to the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES, to support the sustainable management of this stock into the future, which is in everyone's interest. However, the success of the rebuilding plan resulted in greater pressure on the fishery from vessels that had not regularly participated in the fishery in recent years. In general, between 2006 and 2010 the number of vessels in the fishery was relatively constant. However, in 2011 the numbers doubled, which reduced the allocation for each vessel and posed a challenge to the sustainability of the fishery. Therefore, the commencement of the herring review in 2011 came at a pivotal time for the stock. In order to go forward, one must look back, and the Senator will agree that the doubling of the number of vessels participating was problematic.

The north west of Ireland herring stock faces a similar challenge. The stock has had significant cuts in the total allowable catch, TAC, in recent years, and the ICES is recommending a zero TAC unless a rebuilding plan is put in place. The Irish industry, with the support of the Marine Institute, has now introduced a rebuilding plan which is being considered by the EU pelagic regional advisory council. It is intended that this plan will be submitted to the European Commission and evaluated by the scientific, technical and economic committee. The plan may also be brought before the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. It is hoped that the adoption and implementation of this plan will provide a roadmap for recovery of the stock. The west of Scotland herring stock is subject to a separate EU management plan and is being fished sustainably.

In 2011, the Minister asked the fishing industry and other interested parties to make proposals on the future management arrangements for all Irish herring fisheries, namely the Celtic Sea stock, the stocks off the north west coast and the Atlanto-Scandian stock. The objective of the review was to deliver a policy which would ensure economically and biologically sustainable fisheries. The Minister received more than 20 proposals and comments relating to herring stock management. It was clear from these documents that there was no agreement within the industry as to how future herring fishing opportunities should be managed. The Minister then asked the Department to examine the proposals received and prepare a number of options which, as far as practically possible, took the views of stakeholders into account while delivering proper and effective management.

On 22 December 2011, the Minister published a draft policy document on the matter which he believed met the objectives to the greatest extent possible. He consulted and met industry representatives regarding the draft policy and listened carefully to the views expressed. Having considered all views and bearing in mind the sustainability of the fisheries, he came to a decision which he believes provides for the proper and effective management and conservation and rational exploitation of herring stocks. The policy is based on giving access to each of the fisheries to those with a recent track record in that particular fishery. The track record provision allows access to vessels that landed a minimum of five tonnes of herring in 2009 or 2010 or in three of the five years during the period 2006 to 2010. In addition, there are some limited specified circumstances in which an earlier track record may be taken into account. The only exception to the track record provision relates to small vessels in the Dunmore area of the Celtic Sea fishery, where a small-scale local fishery is permitted in line with the rebuilding and management plan for the fishery. A modest restricted quota for smaller vessels without a track record in the Celtic Sea and Area VIa south is also permitted.

The decision was based on a clear, detailed and objective assessment of the fisheries in recent years. This policy is intended to ensure the long-term sustainability of the herring fisheries by limiting participation in the main fisheries to those vessels that have participated in the fishery in the five years prior to the commencement of the review, even at a low level. The Minister totally rejects the claim that the policy was in any way influenced by the geographical location of operators. The qualifying criteria for ring-fencing are independent of location and based on transparent, objective participation data. If an operator did not qualify, it was simply because that operator did not participate significantly in the fishery during the five years from 2006 to 2010.