Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views that it is unreasonable to cut the total allowable catch by 25% in areas in which data from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas are not available; his further views that these measures will adversely affect the Irish fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40018/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Scientific advice shows that many stocks where Ireland has a quota are not in a healthy biological state and therefore are in need of urgent remedial action. I have consistently stated that wherever the available scientific advice indicates a need for a cut in TAC levels I will accept this measure. The Sustainability Impact Assessment on TACs and quotas for 2012, which I presented to the Dail on 23rd November, agrees with the need to cut the quotas for some of the stocks in 2012, though the level of these cuts is queried in some cases, while in others there is clear scientific data to suggest that a cut is unwarranted. In other cases, the available evidence is that an increase in the TAC can be justified.

There is a high cost from a social and economic perspective when quota cuts are proposed and we have to be satisfied that in every case these cuts are justifiable. Fishing ports and whole communities all around our coast are dependent on fisheries for their very survival. But it is equally important to ensure the long term sustainability and health of the fishing resource, because without the stocks there would be no fishing industry.

The science on Irish Sea Cod shows that the stock is in a very poor state, though there are some positive signs with recruitment in 2009 above the recent average, the Commission has proposed a zero catch for Cod in 2012. A long term management plan for this stock has been in place since 2008 which if followed would reduce the TAC in 2012 by 25%. I will be supporting the 25% reduction in the Irish Sea Cod TAC at the December Council of Fisheries Ministers being held on December 15th and 16th in Brussels, where the levels of Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and ultimately the quotas for Ireland in 2012 will be determined.

I have consistently stated that wherever the scientific advice indicates a need for a cut in TAC levels I will accept this measure. The Sustainability Impact Assessment on TACs and quotas for 2012, which I presented to the Dail on 23rd November, agrees with the need to cut the quotas for some of the stocks in 2012, though the level of these cuts is queried in some cases, while in others there is clear scientific data to suggest that a cut is unwarranted. In other cases, the available evidence is that an increase in the TAC can be justified.

There is a high cost from a social and economic perspective when quota cuts are proposed and we have to be satisfied that in every case these cuts are justifiable. Fishing ports and whole communities all around our coast are dependent on fisheries for their very survival. Our fishing fleet depends totally on having healthy and long term sustainable stocks to remain viable and productive. In order to balance all three pillars it will be necessary to take hard decisions on some stocks that will result in reduced fishing opportunities.

However, we need to use all sources of verifiable science when determining our decisions on fishing levels to ensure that the right balance is struck between the health of the fishing resource and the wider ecosystem with the economic and social realities of our network of rural coastal communities. I will be making every effort to ensure, at the Fisheries Council this week, we deliver on these objectives.