Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding herring licences (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37792/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In 2011, I asked the fishing industry and other interested parties to make proposals on the future management arrangements for all Irish herring fisheries, the Celtic Sea stock, the stocks off the North West coast and the Atlanto Scandian stock. The objective of the review was to deliver a policy which would ensure an economically and biologically sustainable fishery. I received over 20 sets of proposals and comments in relation to herring stocks management. It was very clear from these documents that there was no agreement within the industry as to how the future herring fishing opportunities should be managed. I asked my Department to examine the proposals received and to prepare for me a number of options, which as far as practically possible, took the views of stakeholders into account while delivering proper and effective management.

On 22 December 2011, I published a draft policy document on the matter which I believed met the objectives to the greatest extent possible. I consulted and met industry regarding the draft policy and again there was no consensus.

Having considered all views and having regard to the sustainability of the fisheries, I came to a decision which I believe provides for the proper and effective management and conservation and rational exploitation of the herring stocks. The policy is based on giving access to each of the fisheries to those with recent track record in that particular fishery. The track record involves vessels having landed a minimum of 5 tonnes of herring in 2009 or 2010 or in 3 of the 5 years during the period 2006 to 2010. In addition, there are some very limited specified circumstances where an earlier track record may be taken into account.

These are the criteria under which future herring authorisations will be granted and I believe that these track record criteria are objective, transparent and non-discriminatory. The only exception to track record relates to small vessels in the Dunmore area for the Celtic Sea fishery where a small scale local fishery is permitted in line with the Rebuilding/Management Plan for the fishery. The policy also provides for a modest restricted quota for smaller vessels without a track record in both the Celtic Sea and Area VIa.

The decision made was based on a clear, detailed and objective assessment of the fisheries in recent years. This policy is intended to ensure the long term sustainability of the herring fisheries by limiting participation in the main fisheries to those vessels which have participated in the fishery, in the 5 years prior to the commencement of the review, even at a low level.