John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 431: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans to review the regulations and restrictions relating to the licensing of inshore fishing boats and the tonnage restrictions applying to small boats; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3242/11]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to the licensing regime for the potting sub-segment. A 'Scheme for the Licensing of Traditional Pot Fishing Boats in the Irish Inshore Fleet' was introduced in 2003 with a closing date of 18 June 2003, following approval from the European Commission, in order to regularise the position of a substantial number of under 12 metre vessels engaged in commercial fishing by means of pots. These vessels had been in the fleet but, for various reasons, had not been formally licensed or registered. This implementation of this scheme was completed in August 2006 because of an obligation imposed by the European Commission on Ireland to complete the licensing and registration of eligible vessels under the scheme at the earliest possible date, as part of a process of finalising the fishing fleet capacity limits of all Member States. Ireland received a credit of 1,239 gross tonnes and 15,955 kilowatts in its reference level (i.e. fleet capacity ceiling) in respect of these vessels.

While there were some conditions attached to the scheme, these were necessary in order to secure approval at EU level for this increase in Ireland's fleet, that allowed unregistered vessels regularise their position. The approval of the European Commission for the potting scheme was strictly on the basis that it would not lead to an increase in fishing effort in the existing polyvalent segment of the Irish fleet. Accordingly, boats licensed and registered under the scheme were ring fenced within the fleet and a condition of the scheme was that the vessels involved would not target quota species. As it remains a priority not to increase the number of vessels targeting quota stocks, I do not consider that there is a case to review the licensing regime for inshore fishing boats, in this regard.

It is open to owners of vessels in the potting sub-segment who wish to target quota stocks to apply for a polyvalent general fishing boat licence. In order to do so, and to comply with the existing entry/exit regime for the fleet, 100% replacement capacity within the polyvalent segment would have to be acquired.