Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will report on the conclusion of the EU TACs and quotas for 2007; if he will bring forward proposals to reform the annual mechanism for allocating quotas across the EU; if he will propose measures to tackle the illegal fishing by other EU fleets in Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5263/07]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and Quotas for 2007 were agreed by the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers on 21 December, 2006 following two days of tough negotiations. They were in my view very positive from an Irish viewpoint and were generally welcomed by the Irish Fishing Industry. The primary aim entering the negotiations was to ensure that all Irish fishermen will have the maximum possible quantity and range of fishing possibilities that can be justified on a sustainable basis, available to them in 2007.

A total package of almost 200,000 tonnes of fish was secured for the Irish fishing industry for 2007. I would emphasise in particular the important increases in quota secured in key high value species such as monkfish (+7%), hake (+20%), haddock (+23%) and prawns (+17%). Irish fish landings deliver approximately €230 million directly to fishermen in our coastal communities each year. The increased quotas delivered at the December, 2006 Council will add some €20 million to this figure, resulting in a total projected value of €1/4 billion in seafish being landed around the coast in 2007.

Each year a balance must be struck between the necessity to protect and preserve the fish stocks in our waters for future generations and the socioeconomic need to support the 12,000 people in our vulnerable coastal communities, who are dependent on the seafood sector to provide them and their families with a livelihood. I believe that this was successfully achieved on this occasion.

In relation to the suggestion for a review of Member States shares of stocks, the situation is that during the full review of the Common Fisheries Policy, which was completed in December 2002, there was no support for any change or review of allocation shares. Almost all, if not all, of the key commercial stocks in EU waters have been allocated between Member States. The percentage shares held by each Member State have generally remained the same for over 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. I therefore see little value in the proposal from the Deputy.

Illegal fishing practices by all fishing fleets in Ireland's Exclusive Fisheries Zone are and have been a matter of ongoing and substantial concern to me. Illegal practices militate against the protection of our fisheries resources, and their exploitation in a sustainable way into the future. At last November's Fisheries Council agreement was reached on an EU Regulation on Electronic Recording and Reporting of fishing activity and on a means of remote sensing of fishing vessels. The new measures oblige fishing vessels to record and submit their logbook by electronic means at least once a day to the control authorities.

I secured a commitment from the Commission that it will work to ensure that the information will be available to coastal Member States without delay in order to strengthen controls at sea. The Regulation also allows remote sensing to be used to detect and track fishing vessels. The Commission is bringing forward detailed rules setting out the means of recording and reporting the information.

I believe that the new control measures will substantially strengthen Ireland's ability to monitor and control all fishing activity within its Exclusive Fisheries Zone. This measure is particularly important to Ireland because it will give the Naval service access to catch data of all vessels operating within our Zone and strengthen their ability to target fishing vessels whose catch records would not appear to correspond to the profile of their fishing activity as determined by the vessel monitoring system. In addition, the introduction of remote sensing will help address fishing vessels eluding monitoring by switching off their VMS system.

Since my appointment I have worked at EU level to deliver a level playing field on control. These measures are vitally important if we are serious about control and ensuring that all fishing vessels fully record and report on their catch levels. I have consistently raised Ireland's concerns on the need for a level playing field across the EU with Commissioner Borg and I will continue to do so.

The recently established EU Community Fisheries Control Agency will help to improve co-operation and co-ordination between the control authorities of member states. Our Control Authorities and our Naval Service are enhancing their monitoring and inspection systems, with upgraded communications systems, greater co-ordination between agencies and the appointment of additional inspection staff at our ports. The new Sea Fisheries Protection Authority which came into being on 1 January, 2007 will further strengthen Ireland's capacity to monitor and control illegal fishing activities in Irish waters.