Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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887. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if concerns have been raised regarding the operation of Porcupine Bank nephrops fishing grounds and functional unit 16; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45776/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, in Ireland quotas are a public resource and are managed by the Minister. I decide on the management of fish quotas following consultation with industry representatives. 

Quotas (including Nephrops) are generally managed on a monthly basis.  Consultation is carried out each month at the Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC) meeting involving representatives of the fishing industry (1 member from each of the four Fish Producer Organisations,(Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation, Irish Fish Producers Organisation, Irish South and East Fish Producers Organisation and Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation), 1 member from the National Inshore Fishermen’s Forum, 1 member of the Fish Producers and Exporters Association and 1 member of the Fishing Co-Operative Association), the Department and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA). The whitefish quotas are generally managed on the basis of catch limits set for each month. 

At the July 2017 monthly QMAC meeting, industry representatives advised that the price for Nephrops in the Porcupine Bank was relatively low and recommended closure of the fishery accordingly for August and September on the basis that prices would be better later in the year.  The fishery was therefore closed for those months.  I subsequently extended this closure period for October and November 2017 following a landings report from the SFPA that the available quota for Ireland has been exceeded.  Without available quota, the fishery may not be opened.  The SFPA is the legally responsible authority for the collection, treatment and certification of information on fishing activities, including reporting on landings.