Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 616: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason, at the time of the 1 January 2002 ban on tuna fishing, he did not draw up a conversion plan and communicate it to the Commission, which would have entitled tuna fishermen here to substantial amounts of compensation under Article 1.2 of Council Decision 199/27/EC; the amount of compensation paid by the Government and the EU to affected tuna fishermen; the funds spent on trials for alternative tuna fishing techniques; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23239/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The 1998 Council of Fisheries Ministers took a decision to ban drift netting for tuna with effect from 1 January 2002. This decision to ban a particular form of tuna fishing did not amount to the ending of the tuna fishery, however. For 2008, a quota of 7,958 tonnes of albacore tuna is available to Irish fishermen, which compares favourably with the quota of 3,158 tonnes which prevailed in 2001.

As part of the package negotiated in 1998, a four-year phase out period was agreed, during which drift netting would be permitted. Ireland did not submit a conversion plan under Article 1 of Council Decision 1999/27/EC that involved the payment of compensation to those who fished for tuna using drift nets in the past, which was an option available to Member States. Instead, Ireland secured support for research funding from the Commission to develop alternative fishing techniques through experimental fishing programmes and technology transfers. The objective of the research initiative was to assist Irish tuna fishermen with converting successfully to other methods following the introduction of the ban on drift netting. This approach was considered the most appropriate for the Irish fleet.

The resulting diversification trials were organised by Bord Iascaigh Mhara. BIM submitted its proposal to conduct research into alternative tuna fishing techniques to the Commission in 1998. The results of these trials have shown it is possible to catch tuna with techniques other than drift netting. BIM also provided substantial support to interested fishermen as part of this programme. Between 1998 and 2002, more than £2 million was invested in helping Irish fishermen make the transition to alternative methods of fishing for tuna.