Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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534. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which conservation measures already adopted in the context of the Common Fisheries Policy or otherwise continue to improve fish stocks in traditional Irish fishing waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6870/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The new Common Fisheries Policy reform agreement, negotiated to completion under the Irish Presidency will mean real meaningful reform to how EU waters are fished in the future. The agreement is designed to ensure the long term sustainability of fishing in Ireland and throughout EU waters, utilising best scientific advice as a key determinant in setting annual fishing quotas in the future.

Setting fishing levels on the basis of the MSY Principle (Maximum Sustainable Yield) will lead to increased fish stocks and ultimately to higher quotas for Irish fishermen over time. It will end the practice of widespread overfishing and mean a more viable fishing industry for the longer term. Setting annual fishing quotas respecting best scientific advice will inevitably lead to increased fish stocks and more sustainable fishing patterns over time.

A practical and phased discards policy is being introduced where in early years of implementation, TACs and quotas will be set to take account of current levels of discards, should see quotas increase over time. This means that fishermen will have time to adjust and implement changes that will allow for the avoidance of non target species where there are particular problems with the relevant by-catch (such as that the stock is overfished and needs to be allowed to rebuild).

Technical measures are being introduced to avoid and minimise catches of juvenile fish and the reforms contain a commitment to continue and further strengthen conservation measures in the biologically sensitive area off the South and West coast of Ireland (new Irish box). The commitment to develop and strengthen biologically sensitive areas, with spawning grounds and high populations of juvenile fish will also protect the livelihoods of coastal communities by ensuring that fish are allowed to grow to maturity, are more plentiful and fished in a environmentally responsible manner.

The new policy puts fishermen at the core of developing technical and conservation measures to protect juvenile fish and vulnerable fish species with a completely new regionalised decision making approach. This is a big change as up to now decision making was fully centralised in Brussels. The new CFP has moved away from the old system of an EU wide development and application of the rules, a one size fits all approach. The policy provides for the development of measures appropriate for each region by the Member States working with the stakeholders through the new Advisory Councils to devise and implement measures that work for the types of fisheries in the region and involving fishermen in the decision making.