Written answers

Tuesday, 17 November 2015

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Fishing Industry

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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253. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to offer his assessment of the impact that so-called super trawlers have had on fish stocks in Irish seas; if he will implement a ban or restriction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40005/15]

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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280. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has undertaken an impact study of the activities of large super trawlers on the various fish stock species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40319/15]

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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286. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the activities of a Lithuanian-registered super trawler (details supplied) is being monitored by authorities; the actions being taken to ensure that the vessel is fully compliant with all existing control regulations while it remains in Irish fishing waters; his plans to carry out a physical inspection of the vessel's catch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40466/15]

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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288. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of the activities of the factory freezer ships (details supplied) fishing off the coast of County Donegal; the species they are fishing; and if these vessels have been inspected by the Naval Service or by the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40479/15]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 253, 280, 286 and 288 together.

The fishing opportunities available to vessels, including within the Irish Exclusive Fishery Zone (EFZ) for 2015 are set out in TAC and Quota Regulation (Council Regulation (EU) 104/2015 dated 19 January 2015) on a stock by stock basis. In addition to the TACs and quotas set down each year by the Fisheries Council, under the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), a Member State may also swap (exchange) quotas with other Member States in a particular year.

Under Regulation (EU) No. 1380/2013 (the CFP basic regulation), changes to fisheries policy involving access or restriction to fishing opportunities or fishing areas come within the sole competency of the EU. Only the EU Commission may propose changes and any such proposal must be adopted under the co-decision process by the EU Parliament and EU Council. Member States, in consultation with the Commission, Member States affected and stakeholders are permitted to introduce non-discriminatory measures for the conservation and management of fish stocks within the 12 mile zone subject to compliance with policy and procedures set down in CFP Regulation. However, access to the 12 mile zone is set down in the CFP Regulation and may not be changed by an individual Member State.

All fishing opportunities set down in the TAC and Quota Regulation each year are determined by the EU Fisheries Council based on the scientific advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). ICES, in providing advice, considers all of the available data including catch and landing data supplied by the Member States and data provided by Member States scientific bodies, in Ireland’s case - the Marine Institute. The collection and transmission of catch and landings data is mandatory. Member States are also responsible for the collection of scientific data in accordance with EU Data Collection provisions.

Control of the vessel within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone is a matter for the Irish control authorities.  The Control authorities monitor fishing activity of all vessels operating in Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone. Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, operational issues concerning sea fisheries control are a matter for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service.

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