Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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194. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his assessment of the challenges facing the fisheries sector due to the implementation of the European Union Common Fisheries Policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6527/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The new Common Fisheries Policy, in place since 2014, was the outcome of a long and complex negotiation process which formally began in 2009 with the publication of the European Commission’s Green Paper on Reform. Ireland established a Steering Group comprising relevant stakeholders under Dr. Noel Cawley to coordinate the extensive consultations that then took place over the following years. The Commission’s formal Reform proposals were published in 2011 and there followed two more years of intense negotiations before agreement was finally reached under the Irish Presidency in June 2013. Throughout the entire process the Irish fishing industry were kept fully apprised on all developments and their views were reflected in Irelands negotiating position throughout. As with all compromises, especially one involving 28 Member States and 751 MEP’s, the final result did not please everybody and while the new CFP does certainly provide challenges for the fishing sector it also, in my view, provides opportunities.

The new CFP has moved away from the old system of EU wide development and application of the rules (a one size fits all approach). This is a significant change as, previously, fisheries decision making was completely centred in Brussels and any measure required the support of a majority of the Member States, even those with no fisheries interestsin the area concerned. The new policy provides for decision making by the Member States concerned only, with mandatory consultation with the fishing sector and other stakeholders through the Advisory Councils to devise and implement measures that work for the types of fisheries in the region.

A key element of the new CFP that is both a challenge and an opportunity is the setting of fishing levels on the basis of MSY (Maximum Sustainable Yield). The opportunity is that this measure should ultimately lead to healthy fish stocks, higher quotas for Irish fishermen and lead to more sustainable fishing patterns. The challenge is that it has to be fully phased in for all stocks by 2020 and applied where possible immediately.  This may lead to some short term pain but I am convinced that in the long term it is measures like this that will ensure that our coastal communities can look to the future with confidence that the stocks upon which they rely will still be abundant for a long time to come.

Another significant challenge facing our fishing industry is the introduction of a practical and phased discards policy or landing obligation. This has now been in effect since the 1 January 2015 and will apply to all quota stocks by 2019.  The phasing period was a key demand by Ireland during the negotiations and was designed to ensure that fishermen would have time to adjust and implement practical behavioural changes to avoid juvenile fish in particular. Change on this scale is always difficult, but this is a change that was essential if we are serious about ensuring the long term future of a sustainable and profitable fishing industry in Ireland.

In order to help our fishing industry manage the real challenges and opportunities arising from the new CFP, Ialso secured an investment of €240 million for the development of the Irish seafood industry and the coastal communities that depend upon it. This is more than double the amount that was available to Ireland during the previous round of funding and will ensure a strong fishing industry in Ireland that can grow and expand to meet its potential. It is, I believe, the level of the investment needed to meet the challenges and opportunities facing the Irish seafood industry.