Written answers

Tuesday, 20 May 2008

Department of Agriculture and Food

Fishing Industry Development

9:00 pm

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 352: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, regarding renegotiations for blue whiting in EU waters, there are plans in place to renegotiate Irish fishing rights within the framework of the Lisbon treaty, with particular emphasis on the principle of subsidiarity within the EU Lisbon treaty, which expects regions within Europe to harness economic and social potential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19372/08]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's share of the Community's fishing opportunities was established for the main stocks in the early 1980s when these opportunities were being portioned out between Member States. The share allocations were based on catch records and reflect the fishing levels by the Irish fleet at that time. The percentage shares held by each Member State have generally remained the same for over 20 years under the Common Fisheries Policy's principle of "relative stability". In addition, at each December Fisheries Council, Ireland has received an additional share of some of the most important stocks around our coast under the "Hague Preferences" based on the 1976 Hague Agreement which recognised the development needs of peripheral regions whose populations were heavily dependent on fishing activity.

Since then, it has been a priority of successive Government Ministers with responsibility for the fisheries brief to try to have these shares improved. The Common Fisheries Policy was reviewed in 1992 and again in 2002, and in both cases substantial efforts were made to push Ireland's case for increased shares of important stocks but without success. Ireland received no support from other Member States for changes in the allocation keys for the share out of stocks. The next overall review of the basic framework of the Common Fisheries Policy is not scheduled until 2012.

The discussions regarding sharing out blue whiting quota in EU waters is a different matter. Blue whiting is a highly migratory species in the North-East Atlantic which is to be found in European Community waters only part of the year. The stock is managed under arrangements between the European Community, Norway, the Faroe Islands and Iceland. These arrangements are negotiated on an annual basis and involve setting a total allowable catch (TAC), based on scientific advice and catch records of the parties, as part of a series of coastal states agreements for the year. Once agreed, the 2008 blue whiting TAC total is shared out amongst the parties concerned according to agreed allocation keys, with the European Community's share similarly distributed among Member States.

I am committed to working closely with the Irish fishing industry to deliver the best possible deal, taking account of the scientific advice on fish stocks and the needs of fishing communities around the coast, at the annual TAC and Quota negotiations near the end of the year.

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