Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)

I welcome the Minister of State. I wish to take a moment to speak on the section on realising our island and marine potential. The current approach set out in this section is quite weak from a fisheries and seafood perspective, in particular the importance of embedding the principle of consensus and co-creation between the fisheries, the offshore renewable energy, ORE, and environmental protection sectors on the formation of marine protected areas and the identification of future sites of offshore renewable energy and development.

There is little reference to seafood development. National policy objective 49 is the only objective referring to the entire seafood and fisheries sector and while it broadly covers a vague commitment to the sector, it is lacking in ambition. The focus of the chapter is on promoting the development of the ORE. The seafood sector has always recognised the need for ORE development but in a way that does not impinge on the livelihoods of the fishermen and aquaculture producers. While this continues to be recognised and discussed by the seafood-ORE working group and is referenced in the programme for Government, this document does not even make reference to co-existence with other marine users, including the seafood sector, or the importance of assessing potential impacts on fish stock and habitats from ORE development if approved in sensitive areas.

On aquaculture, some of actions and objectives in the national strategic plan for sustainable aquaculture need much more ambition and overall policy, such as the NPF, to realise the potential of the seafood sector. There appears to be lack of synergy with the national marine planning framework, NMPF. The NMPF recognises the important role of seafood production, fishing and aquaculture as a source of economic and employment activity, most notably, within those coastal communities that are more economically dependent on those activities than alternative sources of employment. Coexistence of aquaculture and ORE could be considered in the future as there are opportunities for aquaculture activities that should be explored. The IFA aquaculture committee agrees that the development of offshore renewable energy is important to achieving Ireland's energy and climate targets. The ORE development could help to deliver positive, local, economic, social and environmental benefits. However, stakeholder engagement and consultation would be vital for this part in making this work. The aquaculture industry must be represented at any stakeholder engagement groups, relating to the proposed the establishment of any further proposed designated maritime area plans, DMAPs. Aquaculture provides an important social dividend by providing employment in rural, coastal and island communities through the sustainable production of high quality food with a low carbon footprint. The sector's contribution in sustaining vitality and in coastal areas must not be ignored or underestimated.