Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the initiatives planned to promote the indigenous fishing industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7113/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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As you are aware a strategy for a Restructured, sustainable & Profitable Irish Seafood Industry 2007-2013 — Steering a New Course, was launched on January 28th 2007. The strategy sets out a visionary road map towards achieving an Irish seafood sector that is sustainable, profitable, and most of all, truly competitive and market-focused.

The strategy is based on a comprehensive report carried out by a review group made up of three eminent experts, Dr. Noel Cawley, Mr. Ruan O'Bric and Mr. Joey Murrin, appointed in June 2006. The report, which took on board the views of individual fishermen, fish farmers, processors, marketeers and other stakeholders, focuses on ten core themes and outlines specific actions to be taken in order to achieve a sustainable seafood industry.

Some of the core initiatives proposed in the report include the following:

A restructuring of the fishing fleet through decommissioning schemes, in tandem with a new approach to the management of quotas.

Improve management and control of access conditions to inshore fishing areas through the development, facilitation and implementation of national and local species management plans under the Shellfish Management Framework.

Develop a Step-Up Measure to incentivise consolidation, improve business performance and prioritise support for the development of seafood businesses where there is good potential for long-term sustainable value.

The Irish seafood industry is critical for the sustainable economic and social development of coastal communities, right around the coast and further development of these marine industries is critical to the future prosperity of these areas. There is buoyant demand for seafood both domestically and in key export markets and, as the report strongly recommends, capturing this clear and growing economic and market opportunity is the key for all development activity within the Industry.

The Seafood Strategy Implementation Group (SSIG) chaired by Dr. Noel Cawley and made up of representatives from each of the catching, aquaculture and processing/marketing sectors, as well as the Department and relevant State Agencies has been set up to oversee the implementation of this report.