Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 71: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the measures she proposes to deal with the high level of fish being discarded and bycatch being dumped; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27132/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The issue of high levels of discards in commercial sea fisheries is a global problem and is on the agenda of all major international organisations who deal with the development of sustainable sea fisheries and protection of marine ecosystems.

At a European level, Community legislation allows the discarding of fish in certain circumstances. Fish discards are a complex problem and are a feature of most fisheries particularly in mixed fisheries such as those which prevail in Irish waters. Fish are discarded mainly because they are not the target species, are undersized, are not a commercially viable catch or are over quota.

Ireland has been to the forefront in pressing for action on this issue at European level. The Irish Presidency in 2004, chose as its theme in relation to the fishing sector "fast tracking the development of environmentally friendly fishing methods" as its key focus. A major international conference was held in Dundalk involving EU member states, Norway and Iceland with the key focus on how to reduce discards in commercial fisheries.

Following further consideration, a Commission Communication on "a policy to reduce unwanted by-catches and discards in European fisheries" was presented to Council in June 2007. The Council adapted a range of conclusions on the Commission proposal and these will determine the agenda at European level on this issue for the immediate future.

I will continue to press for progress on this issue and am confident that significant improvements can be achieved in this area. The current Programme for Government commits to increasing supports to assist fishermen make the change over to more environmentally friendly fishing gear, and I am confident that this will assist in reducing the incidence of discarding in key fisheries.