Written answers

Tuesday, 17 May 2005

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Common Fisheries Policy

9:00 pm

Photo of Martin FerrisMartin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the negotiations which have taken place with other member states in relation to re-division of total allowable catch under the Common Fisheries Policy. [15935/05]

Photo of Pat GallagherPat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In the negotiations on the review of the Common Fisheries Policy in 2001 and 2002, Ireland sought substantial changes to the policy, including a review of the member states shares of total allowable catches, TACs. The reform package, agreed in December 2002, included key national priorities such as the continuation of The Hague quota preferences, an action plan to address the problem of juvenile fish catches, stronger control and enforcement and new regional advisory councils giving fishermen a strong voice in shaping future fisheries policy at EU level. However, Ireland received no support from other member states for changes in the allocation keys for the share out of stocks. The percentage shares held by each member state have generally remained the same for some 20 years under the principle of relative stability.

The practical reality is that to achieve an increase in Ireland's share of TACs, other member states would have to take a cut in their share. This is all the more difficult to achieve when TACs of all the main commercial species are falling and the reality is that achieving a qualified majority for such an outcome at the Fisheries Council is not deliverable.

The Common Fisheries Policy, as reformed in 2002, provides that the interests of each member state are taken into account for new allocations. In this regard Ireland has secured a quota of 125 tonnes of the new EU total allowable catch of 1,000 tonnes of snowcrab in Greenland waters. My officials are continuing to examine the possibilities in relation to new fishing opportunities that could be exploited by Irish fishermen.

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