Written answers

Tuesday, 9 June 2015

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Fishing Fleet Modernisation

Photo of Terence FlanaganTerence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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455. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to implement changes to the current fishing fleet management system (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21843/15]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The management of the Fishing fleet using vessel capacity in terms of Gross Tonnage and engine power (Kilowatts) is a cornerstone of the Common Fisheries Policy. EU Regulation 1380/2013 sets down Ireland’s Fishing Capacity ceiling from 1 January 2014. This ceiling is expressed in terms of gross tonnes (GT) and engine power (kilowatts – kW) and covers the total fishing capacity of fishing vessels flying Ireland’s flag. Each Member State must manage entries into its fleet and exits from its fleet in such a way that the entry of new capacity into the fleet is compensated by the previous withdrawal of at least the same amount of capacity. This is known as the “entry/exit regime”. As Minister I have responsibility for policy in relation to sea-fishing boat licensing under Section 3 (3) of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 2003, as amended by Section 99 of the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006. I am precluded from getting involved in individual cases, or a group of cases, with which the licensing authority is or may be concerned under Section 3(5) of the 2003 Act.

Segmentation of the fishing fleet has been a feature of the industry from the establishment of the EU Fishing Fleet Register in 1990. The Irish fishing fleet is divided into five segments in accordance with Ministerial Policy Directive 2 of 2003, as amended. The segments are as follows: Refrigerated Seawater (RSW) Pelagic Segment; Polyvalent Segment; Beam Trawler Segment: Specific Segment: Aquaculture Segment.

In addition, the policy sets out a number of sub-segments of the fleet including a sub-segment for vessels exclusively using pots, vessels targeting scallops and polyvalent vessels under 18 m in length. The transfer of capacity between the segments and sub-segments is not permitted, and equivalent “replacement” capacity must be taken out of the segment or sub-segment into which a vessel is being introduced.

In order for vessels to qualify for either a mackerel and/or herring Authorisation, vessels must be licensed with 100% capacity having the required track record as stipulated under the individual mackerel and herring fleet policies.

Please note that fishing capacity is privately owned and is traded commercially, bought and sold independently of the Department and the Licensing Authority.

The request for a change in licensing policy involving the removal or amalgamation of segments or sub segments would have a substantial impact on the Irish fishing fleet. The current fleet policy allows operators to introduce new or replacement vessels and to modify existing vessels subject to the operator providing replacement capacity from the relevant segment and sub-segment. The current policy has been put in place over many years and a change, as requested, would impact many elements of the fishing fleet. It could potentially have significant impacts on access to fishing resources and the management of quotas. I do not want to create an expectation we can go down the road of “safety tonnage”, which is what was available based on the application of very strict criteria, in the past, because “safety tonnage” is specifically not provided for in the new Common Fisheries Policy.

There are many diverse views within the fishing industry and these often conflict. It is important for the further development of the industry that views on any changes to be made are debated widely internally in the industry and that there is the maximum possible level of agreement and support within the industry for any proposed changes being sought by the industry. Where the industry, preferably through the recognised representative structure of Producer Organisations, makes a business case for changes to the licensing policy on the basis of changed circumstance, I would examine any such case. I would encourage the group of vessel owners who are calling for this major change to long standing policy to engage widely with the Producer Organisations so that any proposed changes can be brought forward with widespread support from across the industry. The changes being proposed would significantly impact many operators in the industry. Any amendments to licensing policy, that I might bring forward, will be subject to a public consultation with stakeholders.

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