Written answers

Tuesday, 16 October 2012

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Fish Quotas

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown in tabular form of quota allocated to each vessel in the north west herring fishery in September 2012 and a comparative table for September 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44745/12]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has 91% of the southern stock (ICES Area VIa South and VIIb,c) and a 15% share of the stock off Scotland (ICES Area VIa North). The scientific advice for the southern stock over recent years has been that the landings should be reduced and as a result there have been cuts to the TAC year on year since 2006 A rebuilding plan for the stock has been prepared by the Irish industry in consultation with the Marine Institute and submitted by the Regional Advisory Council for Pelagic stocks to the EU Commission. The Commission has referred the plan to the EU Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for advice which is expected shortly. There is an EU Management Plan in place since 2008 for the northern stock off the coast of Scotland and the TAC is set each year in accordance with the terms of that plan.

Over the past few years there has been increased interest in participation in these fisheries. This has raised concern about the sustainability of the stock in the context of that level of participation and in relation to the economic viability of individual quota allocations with that increased level of participation.

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 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 and I consulted and met industry regarding the draft policy, again there was no consensus. On 8 June 2012 I issued a policy, having considered all views and having regard to the sustainability of the fisheries 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.

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. The number of vessels which were allocated quota is as follows: 2009 – 65 vessels, 2010 - 63 vessels, 2011 – 92 vessels and 2012 – 56 vessels. The revised arrangements have been applied in the North West herring Fishery which commenced on 1/10/2012.

Ireland’s quotas for each stock for 2011 and 2012 are as follows:

Table 1 Quota adjustments

2011ICES Area VIa South and VIIb,cICES Area VIa North:
Quota4,0653,396
Carry over851309
Transferred385-385
Swap75
Total (8696)5,3013,395

2012ICES Area VIa South and VIIb,cICES Area VIa North:
Quota3,8613,459
Carry over530319
Transferred386-386
Swap24
Total (8,193)4,7773,416

The table below is the data which the Deputy has requested.

Table 2. North West Herring Quota allocations per vessel. (Tonnes).

Vessel Name
2011
2012
Vessel 1
192
218
Vessel 2
57
65
Vessel 3
73
Vessel 4
274
311
Vessel 5
57
84
Vessel 6
274
311
Vessel 7
73
84
Vessel 8
48
54
Vessel 9
57
Vessel 10
192
218
Vessel 11
73
84
Vessel 12
48
54
Vessel 13
48
Vessel 14
123
140
Vessel 15
73
84
Vessel 16
48
Vessel 17
57
Vessel 18
48
Vessel 19
73
84
Vessel 20
123
140
Vessel 21
57
Vessel 22
48
Vessel 23
48
54
Vessel 24
57
84
Vessel 25
73
84
Vessel 26
48
Vessel 27
48
Vessel 28
48
Vessel 29
73
84
Vessel 30
192
218
Vessel 31
192
218
Vessel 32
73
84
Vessel 33
84
Vessel 34
311
Vessel 35
57
Vessel 36
48
Vessel 37
48
Vessel 38
48
Vessel 39
57
Vessel 40
123
140
Vessel 41
73
84
Vessel 42
48
Vessel 43
57
65
Vessel 44
48
Vessel 45
73
84
Vessel 46
73
84
Vessel 47
274
Vessel 48
48
Vessel 49
57
65
Vessel 50
48
Vessel 51
73
84
Vessel 52
48
Vessel 53
48
Vessel 54
48
Vessel 55
57
Vessel 56
123
140
Vessel 57
48
Vessel 58
192
218
Vessel 59
57
65
Vessel 60
48
Vessel 61
57
Vessel 62
73
84
Vessel 63
73
84
Vessel 64
192
218
Vessel 65
192
218
Vessel 66
57
65
Vessel 67
274
311
Vessel 68
48
54
Vessel 69
73
84
Vessel 70
48
Vessel 71
73
84
Vessel 72
48
54
Vessel 73
48
Vessel 74
48
Vessel 75
73
84
Vessel 76
123
140
Vessel 77
274
311
Vessel 78
73
84
Vessel 79
48
54
Vessel 80
48
Vessel 81
48
Vessel 82
48
Vessel 83
48
Vessel 84
84
Vessel 85
274
311
Vessel 86
192
218
Vessel 87
73
Vessel 88
48
Vessel 89
48
54
Vessel 90
192
218
Vessel 91
48
Vessel 92
274
311
Vessel 93
274
311
Vessel 94
123
140
Vessel 95
73
Total Allocated
8596
7757
Number Vessels
92
56

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