Written answers

Friday, 16 December 2016

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Fishing Vessel Licences

Photo of Michael McGrathMichael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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434. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a shipping vessel in Irish waters (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40620/16]

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Under Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 (the CFP basic regulation) a vessel which has secured a quota in an area is entitled to fish that quota, with the exception of the 12 Mile Zone. 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.

The fishing opportunities available to vessels are set out on a stock by stock basis in the Fisheries Council TAC and quota Regulation each year.  Member States may engage in swapping of quota with other Member States, and it appears Lithuania has done this to secure increased Mackerel and Horse Mackerel quota in ICES Zones VI, VII, VIII and associated areas (north western waters) with other member states.

For 2016, according to the latest update on the EU FIDES database, Lithuania has a quota of 2,140 tonnes of mackerel in North western waters of which 140 tonnes was the initial allocation, the balance was achieved through swaps.  It has a quota for Horse Mackerel in the same area of 2,535 tonnes fully achieved through swaps.  None of these swaps took place with Ireland.

Operational issues in relation to sea fisheries control are a matter for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA). The SFPA have advised that the vessel to which the deputy refers was recently operating within the Irish exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and has since left.  The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), was aware of its presence and monitored it continuously once it entered IRL waters. While the vessel was in Irish waters, the Naval Service Ellen carried out a full routine inspection of the vessel while on maritime security and defence patrol.

The SFPA continuously monitors the activity of all vessels operating in Irish waters, in keeping with standard practice, throughout their fishing operations within Irish EEZ through satellite Vessel Monitoring, Automatic Identification System (AIS) and by review and assessment of their declared catches received via ERS. Additional monitoring at sea is conducted by the Naval Service and Air Corps, both of which operate under service level agreements with SFPA for the delivery of ‘at-sea’ monitoring, surveillance and inspection.

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