Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 383: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she has met with representatives of inshore fishermen; and the measures she proposes to assist this sector. [29841/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Since my appointment as Minister with responsibility for fisheries, I have been meeting the main representative bodies for the industry. While inshore fishermen are represented, to an extent, by the main representative body for the catching sector, the Federation of Irish Fishermen, the inshore sector has not a formal representative structure in place. Under the Shellfish Management Framework, put in place to develop management plans for shellfisheries around the coast, representatives of shellfisheries are on the Species Advisory Groups put in place under the Framework and these Groups are represented on the Implementation Group (SSIG) for the Seafood Strategy, Steering a New Course. In the context of that Committee, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) is facilitating discussions within the inshore sector on quota management and the interaction of the sector with quota management proposals currently being progressed under the SSIG.

BIM has also been supporting the inshore representative on the SSIG in bringing forward proposals, developed by the Species Advisory Groups which will facilitate the introduction of management plans for the shellfisheries, for consideration. The Seafood Strategy sets down a range of measures for the seafood industry which will provide support for the inshore sector and these proposals are currently being developed as part of the implementation programme for the Strategy.

I consider that there are real opportunities for inshore fisheries development and I will endeavour to ensure that the Seafood Strategy provides the necessary support to ensure that this sector delivers fully on its potential. I and my Department officials are willing to meet with representatives of the inshore sector to discuss their concerns at any suitable occasion.