Written answers

Thursday, 10 July 2008

Department of Agriculture and Food

Fisheries Protection

4:00 pm

Photo of Seán ConnickSeán Connick (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 577: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his proposals to introduce regulations on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing following the agreement of a new regulation by the Council of Fisheries Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29017/08]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The new Council Regulation establishing a Community System to prevent, deter and eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing achieved political agreement at the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers on 24th June 2008. As an EU Council Regulation, of course, its provisions are directly binding on all Member States. I have already welcomed this measure for the benefits it will bring for our fishermen in removing unfair competition from the market and assisting in the protection of our already depleted fish stocks, and I will be strongly supporting the formal adoption of the measure at Council. After formal adoption, it is intended that the Regulation will come into effect from 1 January 2010.

In the meantime, detailed rules and procedures for implementation must be drawn up. This is a complex and wide ranging measure, addressing not only IUU fishing activities but the marketing, import and export of the resulting catches. For that reason, it will require actions from a number of responsible authorities in each Member State. My officials will be having discussions with relevant authorities here and putting the necessary arrangements in place to ensure the effective delivery of the new controls.

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