Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 414: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will review the recent decision to ban eel fishing which is a tradition for many families, is part of Ireland's culture and heritage and will result in further job losses; his views on whether the scientific report on which the decision was made is based on limited data, that no other significant fishing country is proposing an outright ban and Ireland accounts for about 0.5% and 2% of the total European catch; if eel fishermen will be compensated for the loss of their livelihoods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6119/09]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason a hardship fund was provided for some fishermen and not for others (details supplied). [5565/09]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 414 and 415 together.

In compliance with European Council Regulation No.1100/2007 establishing measures for the recovery of the stock of European eel, a draft Eel Management Plan was submitted to the EU Commission for approval. Given the critical status of the eel stock, as demonstrated in the assessment contained in the draft Eel Management Plan, a number of management measures have been identified as necessary to reach the targets set in the Regulation, including closure of the commercial and recreational fishery from 2009.

I have been advised by the Marine Institute that eel data used in the determination of historical and current silver eel escapement, as required under the Regulation, included time series of juvenile recruitment, adjusted declared fisheries catches, estimates of turbine mortalities, silver eel escapement and sizes, ages and growth rates of brown and silver eel.

Models were used to assess current Irish escapement compared to historical. I am advised that these models employed a system of transferring from data rich situations to data poor situations by using regression modelling, a process similar to that used in salmon stock advice. The draft plan provides for undertaking an array of scientific surveys over the coming years to improve information on the fishery and the status of stocks. Under the Regulation, all aspects of the Plan must be reviewed in 2012. This review will consider, inter alia, whether the eel fishery and market could be reopened in light of the data gathered in the interim and the performance of stocks.

I am not aware of the content of as yet largely unpublished plans submitted by other Member States in response to their obligations under the EC regulation. Over the coming months, these, along with Ireland's draft plan, have to be evaluated by the European Commission as to their adequacy in delivering the objectives of the Eel Regulation. Clearly the status of stocks in other Member States will differ from that of Ireland's, depending on local conditions and therefore their plans may make different recommendations. All must however, clearly demonstrate how they would achieve the targets necessary for recovery of the European eel stocks. Scientific advice by the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) recommends that all exploitation and other anthropogenic impacts on production and escapement of eels should be reduced to as close to zero as possible until stock recovery is achieved. Ireland's draft Eel Management Plan relies upon the most up-to-date information available in its response to this advice.

The latest available international catch data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) (for 2005), indicate that Ireland's reported yield was 2.6% of the total. The latest a corrected estimate from ICES indicates that Ireland was responsible for 4% of the EU catch.

There is no property right attaching to public eel licences and consequently the issue of compensation is not relevant or appropriate, given that the proposed closure of the fishery is being applied for conservation reasons under the Fisheries Acts. While I have no funds at my disposal for a hardship fund for commercial eel fishermen, the Central Fisheries Board is actively investigating alternative opportunities to assist eel fishermen in diversification efforts. Some eel fishermen will also have the opportunity to tender for the trap and transport operations to be managed by the ESB under the Plan.