Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the recommendations from the Cawley report which have been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4890/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I regard the Strategy for a Restructured, Sustainable and Profitable Irish Seafood Industry 2007-13 (The Cawley Report) as the blueprint for the development of the seafood sector going forward.

An implementation group, the Seafood Strategy Implementation Group (SSIG) was set up in 2007 under the chairmanship of Dr Noel Cawley. It is comprised of stakeholders from all sectors of the industry as well as representatives from the relevant state agencies and from my Department.

This group is charged with overseeing and driving the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Cawley Report. Substantial progress has been made on a number of fronts, including the current decommissioning scheme which was one of the key recommendations of the Cawley Report. A total of 45 vessels have accepted offers. €21m was spent in 2008 with an estimated €16m to be spent in 2009. A significant economic benefit currently estimated at some €22m will accrue to the remainder of the fleet from the redistribution of the prawn and whitefish catch previously taken by the decommissioned vessels.

Other progress includes; developing marketing opportunities for Irish seafood, work on the establishment of the Seafood Development Centre, publication of a draft lobster management plan, establishment of the Step Up Programme to incentivise consolidation and prioritise support for the development of seafood businesses, ongoing development of an industry focused Environmental Management System for the wild-capture seafood sector, encouraging use of environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient fishing by way of grant aid, increased training opportunities in the sea fisheries, aquaculture and shore-based sectors.

The Cawley Report recommendations and their indicated funding are underpinned by the National Development Plan (NDP) 2007 — 2013.

I am confident that, with the buy in and participation of the key stakeholders in the implementation process, progress will continue to be made and the goals set out in the Cawley Report will be achieved.