Written answers

Thursday, 26 May 2011

Department of Agriculture, Marine and Food

Fishing Industry Development

11:00 am

Photo of Jim DalyJim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will confirm if he received correspondence from a co-op (details supplied) in County Cork in relation to small scale funding to ensure the survival of the co-op; if he will consider making such funding available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13082/11]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to recent correspondence from the Cork South West Lobster Fishermans Co-Operative in relation to funding for the cooperative.

This Cooperative wrote to me in April seeking funding of €50,000 over 5 years for the cooperative, to enable it to continue to fund its contribution towards payments to lobster fishermen who are members of the Coop and who engage in lobster v-notching. Under the Seafood Development Operational Programme 2007-2013, BIM pays cooperatives 55% of the market price of berried lobsters presented by coop members for v-notching by a BIM officer and returned alive to the sea by the fishermen in order to spawn. I understand that this Coop and some others pay their members the remaining 45% of the market value of the lobster from funds derived from the subscriptions of their members, while other cooperatives do not. Where this other 45% is paid to the coop member by his coop, he or she receives the full market value of the lobster and this makes participation in the v-notching programme a very attractive option for the coop members. V-notching rates tend to be higher for such coops, but this practice also places a great strain on the finances of those coops, particularly if coop membership numbers are falling.

V-notching is a very important conservation measure for the lobster stock. In areas with strong v-notching programmes, the scheme has had a very positive impact on maintaining and increasing the lobster stock. It is very much in the interests of lobster fishermen to maximise v-notching rates in their area in order to ensure the sustainability of the fishery and their livelihoods into the future. I too am very supportive of the Programme and would urge all lobster fishermen to think to the future, their future, and to participate fully in the Programme.

If I was to accede to a request to provide additional funding to the Cork South West Lobster Fishermans Co-Operative, I would have to provide similar funding to all other cooperatives engaged in the v-notching scheme. Funding for fisheries is limited and BIM endeavour within its budget allocation to support a range of important programmes and initiatives and at this time there are no additional funds available. I regret, therefore, that it is not possible to provide additional funds to the Coop on top of the present 55% funding rate. However, I would welcome the views of the Coop on how, in other ways, v-notching rates might be better promoted and increased and indeed proposals on other possible conservation measures for the lobster stock.

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