Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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55. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if scientific advice on replenishing and maintaining fish stocks above levels capable of supporting maximum sustainable yield was taken into consideration during the negotiations on allowable catch for commercial fish stocks in December 2017 in the interest of sustaining the future of the fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23732/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The European Commission makes proposals each year for Total Allowable Catch (TAC) levels for each stock - they are based on formal advice received from theInternational Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the independent international body with responsibility for advising on the state of fish stocks. Our own Marine Institute is a very active contributor to the work of that body. The Commission also takes account of the views of the (STECF) Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, on the economic, technical and social impacts of the scientific advice. It is these proposals that are considered by the Fisheries Council each December.

As part of our preparation for the December Council each year, I present a Sustainability Impact Assessment on the proposals to the Oireachtas. This assessment is informed by the advice of the Marine Institute, a socio economic assessment by BIM and the views of stakeholders following a public consultation. This work informs my position on the negotiations.

The advice from ICES is principally based on achieving the Maximum Sustainable Yield exploitation rate or FMSY as it is more commonly known. This is the largest average catch or yield that can continuously be taken from a stock under existing conditions without damaging the future returns from the stock. It is also one of the key objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy agreed in 2013 to bring and maintain our fish stocks to levels that can deliver FMSY by 2020 at the latest.

In 2009, only five stocks had Total Allowable Catches set at FMSY. The outcome of the 2017 December Fisheries Council brought 53 stocks to FMSY levels.

Ireland intends to continue to work with all stakeholders, Member States and the Commission to build upon this substantial and tangible progress to achieve the ambitious targets set out in the CFP.