Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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14. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will detail the representations his Department has made to the European Union in relation to bluefin tuna quotas, with permission to develop a catch-and-release angling tourism sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18628/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has been in communication with the European Commission on this subject since September of last year. The unequivocal advice we have received from them is that a recreational fishery for bluefin tuna is not legally possible in the absence of a national bluefin tuna quota. We do not have such a quota and it is extremely unlikely that we could obtain one as it would involve reducing the share of the Total Allowable Catch of those Member States that do have quota and for whom bluefin is an important commercial fishery. There would be no support from any quarter for any action by Ireland that might lead to an increase in bluefin mortality. The only possible option remaining would be a tag and release programme that would not impact on mortality and would contribute to the overall scientific knowledge of this species. A case would have to be made in the first instance at EU level and only if successful there could it be pursued with ICCAT. Even the most scientifically robust case will be difficult to progress at EU level given the sensitivities around this stock, with those Member States for whom this is an important commercial fishery completely opposed to any activity that could even possibly impact on the stock.

Consequently, careful consideration needs to be given to how a case can be put together to, in the first instance, reassure our EU colleagues that there would not be any negative impact on the stock. The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, who have responsibility for angling, are currently examining the proposal from the Irish Big Game Angling Association and I look forward to hearing their views.

My Department will continue to liaise closely with DCENR and relevant stakeholders on this matter to consider who would be in a position to undertake the detailed work required to prepare a case on how a possible tag and release scheme might work in practice which will need to cover issues such as the possible scope of the scheme in terms of seasons and numbers, how fish are handled etc.