John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the measures in place to ensure that the mussel seed fished by foreign vessels is not immediately exported for ongrowing in Holland. [20263/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Mussel seed is a naturally occurring resource that requires a management and development strategy in order to maximise the potential return and ensure the sustainability of the stock. Mussel seed is found within Ireland's exclusive fishery limits and access to this area is strictly controlled. In order to ensure a sustainable future for this resource, the mussel seed fishery is managed on an all-island basis. This is done under the Voisinage Agreement, made between Ireland and the UK in respect of Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland waters.

Under this agreement, it is required that UK-registered vessels licensed by the Northern Ireland authorities to operate in this fishery must be owned and operated in Northern Ireland. Vessels from other member states, or from third countries, are not permitted to fish for mussel seed within Ireland's exclusive fishery limits.

The mechanism whereby these joint management arrangements are implemented is the seed mussel advisory committee, SMAC. The SMAC advises and makes recommendations to the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, DARD, in Northern Ireland on the equitable management and exploitation of the island's seed mussel resource. The committee comprises representatives from both Departments, as well as Bord Iascaigh Mhara, BIM, the Loughs Agency and the cross-Border aquaculture initiative. The key task of the SMAC is to assess applications for allocations of mussel seed and advise DARD and my Department accordingly. The SMAC also makes recommendations to the Departments regarding dates for the opening and closure of the fishery.

As the mussel seed sector has developed in recent years, so the management arrangements have evolved. In preparation for the 2005 season, my Department and DARD have been working to bring about a higher level of industry participation so as to ensure maximum transparency. Pending the finalisation of industry representation on the SMAC, arrangements have been put in place, on an interim basis, for consultation with industry as the process of allocating seed proceeds for the coming season.

The evaluation by the SMAC of applications for allocations of mussel seed is based on a minimum growth cycle of two years in Irish waters. This has been put in place following consultation with the industry on the management arrangements for the fishery. Accordingly, the export of mussel seed directly to Holland or to other countries is not provided for under the management arrangements.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if it is Government policy to see the valuable mussel seed resource being taken by a foreign fleet out of the hands of those who have invested so much in the Irish fleet and the Irish processing industry. [20264/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Mussel seed is a naturally occurring resource that requires a management and development strategy in order to maximise the potential return and ensure the sustainability of the stock. In order to ensure a sustainable future for this resource, the mussel seed fishery is managed on an all-island basis. This is done under the Voisinage Agreement, made between Ireland and the UK in respect of Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland waters.

Under this agreement, it is required that UK-registered vessels licensed by the Northern Ireland authorities to operate in this fishery must be owned and operated in Northern Ireland. Information on the number and details of UK-registered vessels to be licensed to operate in this fishery in 2005 has been sought from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, DARD, in Northern Ireland and is expected shortly.

The mechanism whereby these joint management arrangements are implemented is the seed mussel advisory committee, SMAC. The SMAC advises and makes recommendations to my Department and DARD on the equitable management and exploitation of the island's seed mussel resource. The committee comprises representatives from both Departments, as well as Bord Iascaigh Mhara, BIM, the Loughs Agency and the cross-Border aquaculture initiative. The key task of the SMAC is to assess applications for allocations of mussel seed and advise DARD and this Department accordingly. SMAC also makes recommendations to the Departments regarding dates for the opening and closure of the fishery.

As the mussel seed sector has developed in recent years, so the management arrangements have evolved. In preparation for the 2005 season, my Department and DARD have been working to bring about a higher level of industry participation so as to ensure maximum transparency. Pending the finalisation of industry representation on the SMAC, arrangements have been put in place, on an interim basis, for consultation with industry as the process of allocating seed proceeds for the coming season.