Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 242: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in the context of the review of the Common Fisheries Policy, the full extent of fishing and over-fishing that has taken place throughout the European Union by EU or other fishing fleets; the degree to which over-fishing has occurred and by whom; the action proposed or likely to combat this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17307/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the extent to which he has studied the decrease in fish stocks throughout Europe and the reason that has been attributed to same; if over-fishing is likely to be controlled in an even handed way throughout the European Union; the degree to which he has put forward proposals to this effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17308/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 242 and 246 together.

The EU Commission estimates that over 80% of EU stocks are over fished. This statistic should make us all pause and take stock of the serious situation facing the fishing industry across Europe. If unchecked the long term sustainability and viability of many fish stocks will be uncertain. The EU Court of Auditors report in December 2007 identified the problem of substantial control failures across Member States. The Court concluded that weaknesses in fisheries controls jeopardised the proper functioning of a fisheries management policy based on catch limitations. On foot of the Court of Auditor findings, the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council of Ministers adopted a Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 of the 29th September 2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which has applied from the 1st January 2010.

The Commission has also brought forward a proposal, establishing a new Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy, to strengthen fisheries control across the EU and this was adopted by the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of Ministers on the 20th of October 2009, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.

The new Regulation introduces a new and common approach to control, from net to plate. It will cover every stage in the process that sees fish caught, landed, brought to market and sold. Harmonised standards for inspection activities and procedures will help deliver uniform implementation. This new approach will make use of modern technologies and risk analysis. It will introduce systematic and automated cross checking of data collected at the catch, landing and sale stages, to make it easier to spot attempts to break the rules. These measures will be backed up by a comprehensive traceability system, so that all fish and fisheries products, whether imported or produced in the EU, can be tracked throughout the market chain.

I welcome these new measures which I believe are not a threat to Irish fishermen who have already moved significantly to a culture of compliance. As fisheries are a common resource it is vital that all operators from all EU fleets respect the rules. We must rebuild our fish stocks by implementing conservation measures and tackling illegal fishing by fleets in our waters which is the major cause of the decline in our fish stocks and quotas. With this package, we have now a better opportunity to stop the cycle of decline and secure a sustainable profitable future for our industry.

In the context of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, Ireland submitted further proposals to promote a level playing field across EU waters. In the context of the introduction of Electronic Reporting Systems, which are applicable to larger vessels this year, Ireland proposed additional measures including the exchange of detailed information in the entitlements of individual vessels to the coastal Member State. I will be pushing for further improvements to the control regime that promote a level playing field in the reform of the CFP which is being discussion at this time. I believe that the new control regime together with the additional changes sought in Ireland's Response to the CFP will deliver on better control across the European Union.