Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of boats disqualified from fishing for herring this year due to the changes in the rules introduced by him this year; the home ports of the vessels in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48265/12]

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 believe meets the objectives to the greatest extent possible. I again carried out a written consultation process and received 49 written submissions. I then met the 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.

Both the North West Herring Fishery and the Celtic Sea Herring fishery are ring fenced separately based on the vessels track record in each fishery. A vessel may have qualified in one or both fisheries depending on the vessel’s track record as specified above.

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. Two modest restricted quota fisheries were established for vessels under 20m in overall length without a track record, in both the Celtic Sea and Area VIa South.

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.

There are 33 vessels which were not precluded from fishing for herring under the old system (i.e. less than or equal to 19.81m Registered Length) but which are now precluded from fishing for herring because they are greater than or equal to 20m in Length Overall and did not have the track record specified for qualification as set out above. This list does not include all vessels of under 20m in overall length who would have in the past had the option to book into the fishery and receive an individual allocation for herring as there was no restriction in their licenses but did not have a track record of fishing for herring and now have access to allocations set under the modest restricted fishery on a periodic basis. The vessels are shown below according to the registered home port of the vessel. This does not necessarily reflect the operational home port of the vessel.