Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 536 of 12 March 2013, if he will update Dáil Éireann on the deliberations of the monthly stakeholder meeting with respect to the proposal to allocate extra herring quota for herring in Area VIa to boats of less than 15 metres in length. [13988/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Each month I am advised on quota management arrangements by the Whitefish Quota Management Advisory Committee which comprises representatives of the Irish fishing industry, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Department. Industry representatives make recommendations to me in relation to the quota to be allocated in the coming month for whitefish and some pelagic fisheries, including the small vessel herring fishery in Area Vla.

A meeting of the Committee was held this morning (20th March 2013). I will review the recommendations of that Committee and make a decision in relation to the April quotas in accordance with Section 12 of the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006. In the days following my decision the Fishery Management Notices giving legal effect to the decision will be published in full in Irish Oifigiúl. I understand that the recommendation of the fishing industry on the Committee today is that the herring fishery in Area VIa South should be closed for conservation reasons during the summer months, including for under 20m vessels. The industry were made aware of the requests from smaller vessels for access to this fishery and have indicated that they will be recommending a fishery for the autumn, from the beginning of September. I am supportive of the implementation of measures that help protect and rebuild this herring stock, which is regarded by scientists as over exploited and in need of rebuilding.

I will consider the views of industry for this fishery before making a decision on arrangements.