Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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26. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to use the 5% of TAC under the CFP to facilitate small scale and inshore fisheries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48348/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The new CFP Reform, for the first time, introduces a regionalised approach to fisheries management. We have moved away from the old system of an EU decision making approach centralised in Brussels. The new policy puts fishermen at the core of developing conservation measures for fisheries in which they are involved and also makes specific references to taking account of the needs of small scale and inshore fishermen. I will be working closely with my counterparts in the new regional forums to develop new conservation measures and other arrangements to take account of real issues for fishermen in our region.

I consider that the industry itself is best placed to advise me on the management of fishing opportunities, given the wide range of factors which contribute to the optimum usage of available quotas. In relation to the monthly allocation of fishing opportunities, the representative producer organisations in the industry, both fishermen and onshore processors, meet each month with my Department and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority to make recommendations to me in relation to the quota to be allocated in the coming month for whitefish and some pelagic fisheries. This includes the artisanal pelagic fisheries off the North West and South coasts.

In the development of policies in recent years concerning herring and mackerel, the support of small scale fishermen has been an important consideration. In the review of the Mackerel policy which took place in 2010 specific provision was made for small vessels using, trawls or gill nets, which is important to the local community when the mackerel come inshore in the summer months. Hook and line fishing for mackerel by small boats has been provided for since 2008. When I reviewed the herring access arrangements I made provision for small inshore vessels by providing an open access small boat fishery in both the North West herring fishery and the main Celtic Sea herring fishery. In addition to this, I have also increased the proportion of herring available in the Celtic Sea Sentinel fishery, which is an open access fishery for small vessels.

Many of the stocks fished inshore by small vessels are not subject to an EU TAC and quota management regime, although other requirements may be specified in EU or national law. For such non TAC and quota species, management measures applying only to Irish registered vessels fishing within our territorial waters are developed nationally. In the development of such national management measures, I always seek and fully consider any submissions from industry representatives. At present, I am reviewing the in excess of 200 submissions received from stakeholders arising from a consultation I recently undertook on national management measures for lobster and shrimp stocks.

I will continue to support small scale and inshore fishermen in consultation with the industry as the opportunities arise.