Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 410: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Government has plans to implement a decommissioning scheme for fishing vessels under 18 metres in length as per the Cawley Report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13895/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Steering a New Course, the Strategy for a Restructured, Sustainable and Profitable Irish Seafood Industry 2007-13 (The Cawley Report) recommended a restructured fishing fleet, consistent with the sustainable exploitation of available resources and economic requirements of vessel owners and the shore-based industries dependent on it.

The Cawley report prioritised in the first instance a continuation of the previous decommissioning scheme targeting the whitefish fleet to ensure a basis for both stock recovery and long term viability. This scheme was launched by me in February this year. The report also noted that a specific economic or social impact analyses should be carried out in relation to vessels under 18 metres to determine the eligibility, urgency, scope and cost of carrying out a targeted decommissioning scheme for such vessels. Such an analysis has not yet been carried out. It is important that consideration of the necessity for any future decommissioning of vessels under 18 metres, takes account of the overall strategy to achieve a balance between available resources and the fishing fleet.