Written answers

Wednesday, 18 June 2008

Department of Foreign Affairs

Overseas Development Aid

9:00 pm

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the impact Irish owned vessels of an unacceptable size and insufficiently accountable practices are having on the coastal communities of African countries including those to whom Irish Aid has a relationship. [23527/08]

Photo of Peter PowerPeter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland has a special relationship with seven countries in Africa. These are Ethiopia, Uganda, Malawi, Lesotho, Zambia, Mozambique and Tanzania and they are referred to as Programme Countries. Only two of these countries have a coastline, namely Mozambique and Tanzania. In our present partnership programmes with Mozambique and Tanzania the focus is more on the agricultural sector with no involvement in the maritime sector.

All fishing vessels on the Irish Sea Fishing Boat Register, and indeed all European Union-registered sea fishing boats, are subject to regulation of their activities under the provisions of the Common Fisheries Policy, wherever in the world they are fishing, whether within the territorial waters of a third country or on the high seas.

The European Union has Fisheries Partnership Agreements with a number of developing countries worldwide, including a number of east and west African states. With the adoption of the Council Conclusions of July 2004, the European Commission's bilateral fisheries relations are now based on an international legal act between the European Commission and the concerned coastal state, known as a Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA).

Inter alia, these agreements are structured to contribute to sustainable fishing activities in the waters of the partner third country in accordance with the principles of the Common Fisheries Policy, as well as to enhance coherence with development cooperation policy and with other related policies, such as environment, trade and health. A crucial element is a financial contribution from the Community to the partner state.

European Union vessels availing of fishing opportunities under these Agreements must apply for a licence through the Commission and the relevant partner state, and must comply with the conditions set out in the particular Fisheries Partnership Agreement. Vessels that breach any of the licence conditions are of course subject to sanction.

Historically, very few Irish vessels have participated in such fisheries due to a lack of freezer capacity. There is no freezer vessel on the Irish Sea-Fishing Boat Register at present. The distance from home waters, high fuel and other costs, lack of adequate shore-based facilities and other difficulties have made such expeditions unattractive for the Irish pelagic fleet.

The Mauritanian authorities have recently approved a licence application for one Irish pelagic vessel under the European Union/Mauritania Fisheries Partnership Agreement. There are no other Irish registered vessels fishing under this or any other agreement at present.

On a related theme, the European Union is currently preparing strengthened measures to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing by rogue vessels and vessels fishing under flags of convenience. Together with my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, I am strongly supporting these measures at European Union level.

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