Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 625: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, where fishing vessels which are to be decommissioned and for which a compensation package for owners has been negotiated, her Department is arranging a compensation package for crew members who may lose their employment as a result of such decommissioning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11294/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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All fishermen are eligible to undertake Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) training programmes including those serving on vessels that are decommissioning. In this regard, BIM and FÁS have agreed to co-operate to provide training for fishing vessel crewmembers that find themselves without a job when their fishing vessel is decommissioned. Both agencies will work closely together to provide retraining, up-skilling or diversification opportunities in the seafood industry or elsewhere in the economy as required.

In addition, funding will be provided within BIM's overall programmes to support the sustainable development and improvement of the quality of life in fisheries areas as part of an overall strategy that will support the implementation of the objectives of the common fisheries policy, in particular taking account of its socioeconomic effects.

The measures for sustainable development of fisheries areas shall seek to:

(a) maintain the economic and social prosperity of these areas and add value to fisheries and aquaculture products;

(b) maintain and develop jobs in fisheries areas through support for diversification or the economic and social restructuring of areas facing socioeconomic difficulties as a result of changes in the fisheries sector;

(c) promote the quality of the coastal environment;

(d) promote national and transnational cooperation between fisheries areas.

It should also be noted that while the decommissioning scheme will remove some of the older and less economically viable vessels from the fleet right around the coast, the majority of the fleet will continue fishing and will continue to need crew. At present many skippers are experiencing great difficulty securing crew, as there is an overall shortage of crew for fishing vessels. In this situation there remains good opportunities for crewmembers whose current boats are leaving the fleet.