Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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12. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plan to introduce of a maximum lobster landing limit of 127 mm; if this will include a mandatory v-notching programme for lobster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26128/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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On 14 May I launched a package of measures aimed at supporting and developing Ireland’s inshore fisheries. As part of the package of measures, I announced the introduction a maximum landing size for lobster of 127mm due to the importance of very large lobsters to the reproductive potential of the stock. The decision to introduce this new conservation measure followed on from consideration of over 250 submissions received during public consultation and of expert advice from the marine agencies. During the first 2 years of operation of this new measure, in order to provide support for potential financial losses throughout the transitional period, fishermen will be paid up to 75% of the market price for v-notching ‘oversize’ lobsters and returning them live to the sea.

The voluntary v-notching conservation programme has been an important contributor to the sustainability of Irish lobster stocks. It was with this in mind that I also announced an increase in grant aid for voluntary v-notching of lobsters from the existing maximum of 55% to a new maximum of 75% as part of the new Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Scheme to be delivered by BIM.

During the public consultation on the proposals for the lobster fishery, many fishermen, particularly inshore fishermen who depend heavily on lobster for their income, put forward a variety of alternative proposals to safeguard lobster stocks into the future. These alternatives included but were not limited to strengthening participation in the v-notching programme by a variety of means. I would like to see inshore fishermen themselves explore and develop such proposals to ensure the long-term sustainability of lobster and other important fisheries they rely upon. It is for this reason that I also announced the establishment of the National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF) to provide inshore fishermen with their own space for convening and bringing common initiatives forward. A network of Regional Inshore Forums (RIF’s), based on and linked to the community-led Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) around the Irish coast, will nominate delegates to bring forward regional proposals to the NIFF for wider industry discussion.

The purpose of the Forums will primarily be to develop and facilitate implementation of policies and initiatives relating to the sustainable management of the inshore fisheries within six nautical miles. From the ground-up, inshore fishermen need to be involved in designing policies that affect their livelihoods. I hope inshore fishermen will embrace the opportunity this new initiative provides to ensure the Forums become a successful platform for developing this important sector of Ireland’s fishing industry.