Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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557. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to encourage the fishing industry to use more environmentally sustainable products; the actions proposed to hold those accountable in the fishing industry regarding the subsequent waste generated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3170/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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An Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) is undertaking a number of initiatives to enhance sustainability in the fishing industry through the Sustainable Fisheries Scheme and the Inshore Fisheries Conservation Scheme, both funded under my Department’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Operational Programme 2014-2020, co-funded by the European Union.

BIM is working with the fishing industry, my Department and the Marine Institute to develop gear modifications and conservation measures that minimise unwanted catches of juvenile, depleted and choke stocks, protected species such as dolphins or seals, as well as the broader environmental impacts of fishing.   

BIM has developed a Responsibly Sourced Seafood Standard which is a third party certification scheme that demonstrates that the suppliers of Irish seafood produce safe, legal products of consistent high quality, which is caught responsibly.

BIM is working with the fishing industry to improve waste management within the industry through its ‘Fishing For Litter’ and ‘Net Recycling’ initiatives.  The ‘Fishing for Litter’ initiative, launched in 2015 as a pilot initiative, encourages fishermen to take ashore the litter they encounter or generate at sea while fishing, for safe sustainable disposal. Fishermen are provided with special heavy duty bags by BIM which are filled by the fishermen while at sea and these bags are deposited in fishery harbours for sustainable disposal.  BIM are preparing waste characterisation plans for each fishery harbour as the initiative is rolled out.  Under the Net Recycling initiative, end of life nets are dismantled into a number of components, enabling the material to enter a number of recycling streams thus diverting such material from landfill.  Both initiatives are proving very popular with fishermen, who are actively supporting the initiatives, and this in turn contributes to their certification under the BIM responsibly sourced standard and Bord Bia’s Origin Green.