Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to discuss Inland Fisheries during Ireland's Presidency of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4672/13]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware inland fisheries activity is based in “domestic waters” and interaction at EU level is limited. Some discussion on Inland Fisheries issues takes place as part of the broader Fisheries Agenda under DG Mare of the European Union. Working Groups and Committees are mainly attended by colleagues in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) as the majority of items fall within the remit of that Department. Officials in my Department liaise regularly with DAFM colleagues on issues falling within our remit to ensure a consistent approach within the wider Fisheries discussions. On issues of particular importance to my Department officials from my Department and Inland Fisheries Ireland do and will continue to attend relevant meetings.

The international dialogue on salmon management has a broader international context and takes place within the remit of the regional fisheries organisation the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO). I am pleased to advise the Deputy that Ireland will be hosting, on behalf of the EU, the 30th annual General Meeting of the NASCO, in June 2013, during our EU Presidency. While the EU is a contracting party to NASCO and Member States, Including Ireland attend the negotiations, the event will also involve State delegations from Russia, Norway, USA, Canada and Denmark in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland. There will also be a significant number of Inter-governmental (IGOs) and Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) attending.

Work will also continue at EU level on the protection of the European Eel and in respect of the management of eels, the Deputy will be interested to know that, following a public consultation exercise, Ireland’s report of the status of eel under the first three years of the Eel Management Plan was submitted to the European Commission in mid-2012. Feedback on that from the Commission is awaited. The review of eel stocks in Europe is a shared concern involving many countries on a pan-European basis and we await details of all European reviews to inform future discussions.