Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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215. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the EU fishing waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39172/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The waters around Ireland (ICES Sub-areas VI & VII which extend from north of Scotland to Brittany and cover part of the Exclusive Fisheries zones of the UK and France also) contain some of the most productive and biologically sensitive fishing grounds in the EU.  The management of the resources within this area come under the remit of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and a significant proportion are managed through a system of Total Allowable Catches from which quotas are allocated to individual Member States.

The overall fishing opportunities for 2016 for stocks to which the Irish fleet has access to is 1.1million tonnes of fish. These fish have an approximate point of landing value of €1.26 billion.  Ireland’s total share of the TAC’s in 2016 amounted to 216,261 tonnes with a value of approximately €201million. This represents 20% by tonnage and 16% by value.  These figures fluctuate depending on the state of the stocks and the markets from year to year.  Also, they do not include valuable inshore fisheries e.g. crab, lobster, whelk which are not managed under the TAC system.

Ireland’s share of a particular TAC varies depending on the stock. For example, we have 86% of the Celtic Sea Herring stock and 15% of the Celtic Sea Cod stock.

It should also be noted that Ireland’s landings have substantially increased (from 85,700 tonnes in 1973 to 201,000 in 2016) since Ireland joined the EU in 1973.

The share out of stocks between Member States was established as a principle of the first CFP in 1983 and was based on the average catch of each Member State over a period of reference years. The reference period used to determine the allocation percentages (keys) for many of the traditional fish stocks around the coast runs from 1973 – 1978.  This means that each Member State's share of each Community quota should remain constant over time. 

Ireland successfully argued that recognition had to be given to the “special needs of regions where the local population is particularly dependent upon fishing and the industries allied to”. This gave rise to the Hague Preferences which can double Irelands fishing opportunities for certain stocks dependant on overall TAC level.

At the end of each year at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Ministers set the total allowable catches (TACs) for a number of stocks important to Community fleets. Each TAC is then divided up among Member States in the form of quotas on the basis of “relative stability” after which Member States are free to manage their quotas at national level as they see fit.

With regard to the Deputy's point concerning "foreign supertankers", all foreign fishing vessels, on the north-west coast, are precluded from Ireland’s 12 mile fishing zone, other than for transit purposes and all foreign pelagic fishing vessels, including pelagic factory vessels,  are also precluded from Ireland’s 12 mile fishing zone on  the west coast.  In addition,  Irish fishing  vessels equal to or greater than 36.58 m (120 ft)  in length,  are precluded from Ireland’s 12 mile zone.  Under the Voisinage arrangement Northern Ireland vessels were given access in respect of the 6 mile fishing zone.  However, in light of the recent Supreme Court judgement on this matter, access for Northern Ireland vessels is not currently provided for in domestic law.  

The SFPA and the Naval Service through the Fisheries Monitoring Centre monitor the movements of foreign and Irish vessels within our Exclusive Fisheries Zone, using the Vessel Monitoring System Automatic Identification System and declared catches through Electronic Reporting System. The SFPA is reliant on the seagoing fishery patrol activity of the Naval Service to verify compliance of vessels not landing into Ireland. 

The monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are matters for the Irish control authorities.  Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, all operational issues of this nature concerning sea fisheries control are, as a matter of law, exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Naval Service.  As Minister I am precluded from getting involved in operational matters including in relation to law enforcement.