Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason days at sea restrictions have been placed on white fish fishermen who operate in box 6A in view of commitments given to these fishermen before Christmas 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5080/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The EU Fisheries Councils in November and December 2008 adopted a new Cod Recovery Plan, as set out in Council Regulation (EC) No. 1342/2008 and Annex IIa of the 2009 TAC and Quota Regulation (EC) No 43/2009. These Regulations are applicable to the fishing fleets of all Member States fishing with specified fishing gears in the relevant sea areas. Under these Regulations, Ireland and other relevant Member States are required to introduce and implement a licensing regime to manage its allocation of fishing effort-days at sea limits in areas VIa (north west of Ireland) and VIIa (the Irish Sea) for vessels using specified gear types.

At the December Council, the EU Commission's proposals for complete closure of all whitefish fisheries in the waters off Donegal were successfully renegotiated and agreement was reached on a package of measures which both delivers strong conservation measures for the cod, whiting and haddock stocks in decline while facilitating the continuation of important fishing activities for the Irish fleet in the area.

Following consultations with representatives of the Irish fishing industry, the Department introduced a pilot system of authorisations and allocations of fishing effort for the period 1 February 2009 to 30 April 2009.

I appreciate that the introduction of these new conservation measures are a challenge and I have established a Steering Group involving the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF), the Department and agencies to provide support to the industry in relation to the practical implementation of these new measures. The effort allocations already made were done on a pilot basis only and I am happy to make amendments where proposed by the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) within the legal framework that has been established.