Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

244. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons that continue to be employed in the fishing industry. [49426/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The seafood sector provides employment for approximately 11,000 people around the coast of Ireland. This comprises in the region of 4,980 full and part time fishermen, 1,760 fish farmers, 2,860 in seafood processing and 1,400 in a range of ancillary activity. Food Harvest 2020 has recognised the potential of the seafood sector to increase employment by 3,000 to 14,000 by 2020 , while Bord Iascaigh Mhara’s Strategy for the period 2013-2017 is targeting the creation of 1,200 jobs by 2017. My Department is presently working on development of a Seafood Development Programme for the period 2014-2020, co-funded by the new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. The Programme will invest €241 million in the seafood industry up to 2020 and will seek to maximise the contribution of the seafood sector to the economy and to further increase employment in coastal communities.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

245. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he continues to protect the interests of the Irish fishing industry in the context of the EU Common Fisheries Policy; if he is satisfied regarding the future for sea fishing families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49427/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The reformed CFP which was finalised last year under the Irish presidency will result in 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. It will provide the framework for the long term sustainability of fish stocks around our shores, the continued economic viability of our fishing fleet and fish processing while supporting the communities that depend on a vibrant fishing industry. New opportunities for the direct involvement of the fishing industry are also a central part of the new CFP Reform which, 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 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 process. This new approach 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 Irish fishermen

From the outset of the Common Fisheries Policy revision process, Ireland’s overarching goal was to ensure a sustainable, profitable and self reliant industry that protects and enhances the social and economic fabric of rural coastal communities dependent on the seafood sector, while balancing these objectives with the need to safeguard fish stocks for future generations. This will ensure that families dependent on the fishing can look forward to being part of a vibrant, productive and resilient Irish fishing industry.