Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1615: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding the implementation of the recommendation in the Report of the Seafood Industry Strategy Review Group and in particular that an approach be taken at EU level to ensure EU regulations on compliance and control are strictly enforced throughout the Community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30876/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The need for a level playing field across the EU on fisheries control has been recognised as a national priority both by industry and by Government. We have consistently pushed at EU level for a level playing field on controls. Following the Review of the CFP in 2002, a new EU Control Agency to promote co-ordination and co-operation on control at EU level was established which is working to promote a level playing field at operational level. Following pressure from Ireland, new rules for the electronic reporting of fish catches were agreed which include a requirement that the Coastal Member State has real time access to such records. One of the key benefits of electronic reporting of catches, which will apply to all large vessels from 1 January 2010, is that it will allow the Control Authorities of a Coastal State to have access to the logbook information of any fishing vessel operating in its waters. This allows the Control Authorities to make informed decisions on the activities of vessels and on how best to deploy and focus their resources.

Irish Ministers have consistently argued that our objective must be to raise control levels across the EU if we are to protect the future of stocks in the Irish zone and fishing communities in Ireland who are wholly dependent on those stocks. A Court of Auditors report earlier this year identified substantial control failures across Member States. As Ireland is completely dependent on fish stocks around our coast, we must be at the forefront in having measures in place that are effective and not rewarding illegal fishing if we are to protect these stocks and give a long term future to our fishing communities. On foot of the Court of Auditor findings, the Commission has prioritised control and has stated that it intends to review the regulatory regime and to bring forward specific proposals for a new regulatory regime this autumn. It is clearly in the interests of the Irish fishing industry and fishing communities that there is strong and effective implementation of the quotas and other conservation measures on all fishing vessels fishing on stocks in our zone. I am committed to this in the interest of our fishermen.