Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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926. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the environmental, social and economic criteria used by Ireland for allocating fishing quota Article 17 of the Common Fisheries Policy; and the process for weighting or prioritising the criteria. [20133/20]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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In Ireland, fish quotas are a public resource owned by the State and are made available to fishing vessels based on an overall policy framework which has been developed over the past 30 years.  The key commercial whitefish quotas (cod, haddock, monk, hake etc) are managed on a monthly basis with maximum catch limits set for vessels.  Pelagic stocks such as mackerel and herring are managed on an annual or seasonal basis with catch limits set based on allocation regimes developed over many years and primarily related to historical catch records.  

The allocations are not owned by the vessel and when an allocation is not fished, it can not be transferred to another boat but is returned to the State for redistribution to the fleet in the normal way.  The substantial advantage from a macro perspective of these arrangements is that it retains an Irish owned and operated fleet which makes the bulk of its landings to Irish ports and bases its operations in Ireland. If the fleet were not Irish owned, there would be a rapid concentration of ownership in a small number of international companies which are not likely to operate from Ireland and may not have any  commercial links with Ireland.   

It is worth noting that within the EU, most quota systems have been privatised for their main commercial stocks.  In the UK for example, the bulk of quotas available to England have been purchased by international companies with limited connections to their coastal communities.  In Ireland, it has been long standing policy to ensure that our quotas are not privatised and this has been a policy of Governments over the decades. The result of this long standing policy is that the Irish fishing fleet involves a balanced spread of sizes and types of fishing vessels who have retained a strong economic link with our coastal communities and have delivered economic activity including vital employment in these communities, where there are very limited alternative economic activities. 

Ireland has strongly supported the introduction of more selective fishing gear to reduce catches of juvenile fish and unwanted by-catches.  Fishing gear trials in our main fisheries have been carried out in collaboration with our fishing sector.  A number of changes to fishing gear and practices which demonstrate improved selectivity have been adopted at EU level following recommendations from the North West Waters Member States Group  (Ireland is a key player in this Group) and most recently as part of the TAC and quota Regulation adopted in December 2020.  These measures support building more sustainable fishing practices in the waters around Ireland.  

In addition, national measures are adopted from time to time, informed by the experiences of our fisheries, most recently the setting of a minimum mesh size for our important nephrops fishery and setting conditions for gear used in this fishery that are additional to measures adopted at EU level.  

From time to time, the quota system is used to incentivise the introduction of environmentally friendly fishing gear in particular fisheries or for particular types of vessels usually in advance of seeking to implement change at EU level.  

In addition, Ireland has introduced a ban on trawl fishing inside its 6 nautical mile zone.  These measures aim to provide ecosystem benefits, including for nursery areas and juvenile fish stocks. They are also intended to facilitate the further sustainable development of the small scale inshore and the sea-angling sectors which strongly rely on inshore waters

The Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC) takes into account the importance of supporting the landing obligation in the allocation of quotas.  The recommendations for allocations for each period for by-catch stocks for the Irish fleet are aimed at the catch composition in our mixed fisheries.    

National Policy for Quota Balancing has been put in place for pelagic and demersal stocks. Where a vessel exceeds its catch limit for a relevant pelagic or demersal stock, a balancing adjustment is made from future allocations of fishing opportunities. Furthermore, where a vessel has reported landings of a pelagic stock for which it does not hold a valid authorisation/notification at the time of the fishing operation, such landings will be subject to quota balancing and a balancing adjustment is made from a future allocation of a fishing opportunity.

In terms of economic criteria, demersal fisheries catch limits generally take account of the length of fishing vessels with large vessels being allocated double that of smaller fishing vessels; the market situation for fish; and in certain fisheries the allocation takes into account the type of fishing gear deployed.  In pelagic fisheries, allocations take account of historic activity for the relevant fleet segment.  Within these allocations, it has regard for the length of fishing vessels and or the historic fishing pattern of the vessels in the segment.

BIM, Ireland’s seafood development agency, carries out the socio-economic assessment to examine the potential effects of the annual fishing opportunities proposal. The assessment is carried out on a stock by stock basis as well as a regional analysis of fishery areas. The methodology of the assessment utilises data that is collected nationally within the EU and so allows timely estimation of possible social impacts as a result of changes in total allowable catches that could affect national fishing fleets and fishing dependent communities. The assessment also covers the potential social impacts that can extend to a broad set of characteristics such as employment, wages and downstream impacts at a regional level.

The Irish fish quota management system is designed to ensure, having regard to fishing patterns and market conditions, a fair and rational allocation of quotas between fishing vessel operators and management to support fishing seasons and the availability of by-catch quotas during the year. The management arrangements have been set and developed over many years since the commencement of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the introduction of quotas.  Any amendments or changes to the policy on management arrangements are determined by the Minister of the time following detailed analysis and full consultation with stakeholders.  Allocations and other arrangements are decided by the Minister on an ongoing basis having regard for the advice of the Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC).  This Committee is a formal consultative committee, involving fishing industry representatives from the catching, inshore and processing sectors.  The QMAC is in place at the discretion of the Minister and is chaired by the Department.

The QMAC currently meets on a monthly basis. The purpose of these meetings is for the industry representatives to make recommendations to the Minister on monthly/bi-monthly/quarterly catch limits for particular demersal stocks.  The Minister has regard for the recommendations, subject to the proper management and rational exploitation of our fisheries. Additional meetings are organised as required to discuss specific issues in particular fisheries that may arise.

The QMAC operates by examining in detail each month the operation of each fishery, available quota and uptake patterns for the different metiers of fishing vessels, including inshore fishing vessels. There are detailed discussions each month on the catch limits taking account of the divergent situation of the fleet, including that of smaller inshore fishing vessels, and of the market.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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927. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the incentives provided to fishing vessels to use selective fishing gear or using fishing techniques with reduced environmental impact; the number of quota holder incentives provided since 1 January 2018; the number that them are small-scale vessels (details supplied); the percentage of fishing vessels registered here they constitute.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20134/20]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland has strongly supported the introduction of more selective fishing gear to reduce catches of juvenile fish and unwanted by-catches.  Fishing gear trials have been carried out in our main fisheries working in collaboration with our fishing sector.  A number of changes to fishing gear and practices which demonstrate improved selectivity have been adopted at EU level following recommendations from  the North West Waters Member States Group (Ireland is a key member of the Group)  and most recently as part of the TAC and quota Regulation adopted in December 2020. 

In addition, national measures are adopted, informed by the experiences of quota management, most recently the setting of a minimum mesh size for our important nephrops fishery and setting conditions for gear used in this fishery that are additional to measures adopted at EU level.  

From time to time, the quota system is used to incentivise the introduction of environmentally friendly fishing gear in particular fisheries or for particular types of vessels usually in advance of seeking to implement change at EU level.

There are currently no financial incentives in place in respect of the use of selective fishing gear or using fishing techniques with reduced environmental impact.  Schemes for Nephrops were operated from September to December 2017, March to May and June to August 2018.  The purpose of the Nephrops schemes was to promote the use of more selective fishing gear in the Nephrops fishery.  The intention was to promote the use of fishing gears that had demonstrated the escape of unwanted catches, in particular (i) small Nephrops and (ii) small and/or quota-limited whitefish such as cod, whiting, haddock and black sole.

In the March to May 2018 scheme for Nephrops, there were five applicants of which four were in respect of vessels under 12 metres in length overall (80% of the total number of applicants). In the June to August 2018 scheme for Nephrops, there were two applicants. Both applicants were in respect of vessels under 12 metres in length overall. 

As of today, the total number of vessels on the Irish fleet register is 1,563 so that the percentage of fishing vessels partaking in the March to May 2018 Nephrops scheme and the June to August 2018 Nephrops scheme would be, in both cases, less than 1% of the total number of vessels on the Irish fleet register.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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928. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of the national quota that is allocated to small-scale vessels and or vessels using low impact gear (details supplied) for the period 1 January 2017 to 30 June 2020, in tabular form. [20135/20]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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In Ireland, fish quotas are a public resource owned by the State and are made available to fishing vessels based on an overall policy framework which has been developed over the past 30 years.  The key commercial whitefish quotas (cod, haddock, monk, hake etc) are managed on a monthly basis with maximum catch limits set for vessels.  Pelagic stocks such as mackerel and herring are managed on an annual or seasonal basis with catch limits set based on allocation regimes developed over many years and primarily related to historical catch records.

The allocations are not owned by the vessel and when an allocation is not fished, it can not be transferred to another boat but is returned to the State for redistribution to the fleet in the normal way.  The substantial advantage from a macro perspective of these arrangements is that it retains an Irish owned and operated fleet which makes the bulk of its landings to Irish ports and bases its operations in Ireland. If the fleet were not Irish owned, there would be a rapid concentration of ownership in a small number of international companies which are not likely to operate from Irelandand may not have any  commercial links with Ireland.

The Irish fish quota management system is designed to ensure, having regard to fishing patterns and market conditions, a fair and rational allocation of quotas between fishing vessel operators and management to support fishing seasons and the availability of by-catch quotas during the year. The management arrangements have been set and developed over many years since the commencement of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the introduction of quotas.  Any amendments or changes to the policy on management arrangements are determined by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine following detailed analysis and full consultation with stakeholders.  Within the Minister’s policy, allocations and other arrangements are decided by the Minister on an ongoing basis having regard for the advice of the Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC).  This Committee is a formal consultative committee, involving fishing industry representatives from the catching, inshore and processing sectors.  The QMAC is in place at the discretion of the Minister and is chaired by the Department.

The QMAC currently meets on a monthly basis. The purpose of these meetings is for the industry representatives to make recommendations to the Minister on monthly catch limits for particular demersal stocks.  The Minister has regard for the recommendations, subject to the proper management and rational exploitation of our fisheries. Additional meetings are organised as required to discuss specific issues in particular fisheries that may arise.

I assume that the ‘small-scale’ vessels referred to in the question are those that have a length under 12 metres overall.While it would be difficult to determine the combined percentage that is made available as a catch limit to such vessels for each stock, fishery and vessel type, the arrangements are set out below that specify the catch limits made available to such vessels.

Allocation of demersal fishing quotas

Demersal fishing quotas are managed on the basis of catch limits that are set for each month. In demersal fisheries subject to the fishing vessels licence conditions, catch limits generally take account of the length of fishing vessels with larger vessels, having a length greater than or equal to 55 feet, being allocated double that of smaller fishing vessels, which have a length less than 55 feet. 

In setting each monthly catch limit, the market situation for fish is also considered by members of the QMAC and in certain fisheries the allocation of catch limits takes into account the type of fishing gear deployed.  For example, for the Haddock fisheries in ICES Division 7a and ICES Divisions 7b-k, sub areas 8, 9 and 10, a higher catch limit is allocated to vessels that are fishing exclusively by means of Danish/Scottish Fly Seines. Any vessel fishing for Haddock in these areas exclusively by means of Danish/Scottish Fly Seines will typically be allocated triple the standard limit being allocated to smaller vessels which have a length less than 55 feet.

For demersal fisheries and subject to licence conditions,  small-scale vessels have the same fishing opportunities as any other vessel of a length that is less than 55 feet.

Allocation of pelagic fishing quotas

In pelagic fisheries, catch limits are allocated in accordaince with the Policy set for each fishery and within these arrangments catch limits are made available that have regard for vessel length within segments.

The Herring, Mackerel, Horse Mackerel and Sprat fisheries are the more important pelagic species for small scale vessels. I have provided below a description of the management arrangements in respect of pelagic fisheries from 2017 as described herewith.

Albacore Tuna

In 2020, there are two separate categories for the operation of this fishery: Group A and Group B. Group A vessels operate using pair trawling and may also use Trolling and Surface Long-Lining. Group B vessels operate exclusively by means of Trolling and Surface Long-lining where no pair-trawling is allowed for the year. A vessel may only be in one category for the duration of the fishery.

An amount of 200 tonnes is set aside for vessels operating within Group B and to act as a contingency for both Groups A and B. The remaining quota is allocated to the vessels within Group A where a trip limit of 55 tonnes per trip is set for each vessel.

The 2020 management arrangements are in line with arrangements adopted in 2017, 2018 and 2019 for the Albacore Tuna fishery where 200 tonnes was set aside for the Group B fishery and to act as a contingency.

Boarfish:

In 2018, 2019 and 2020, the Boarfish fishery has been operated as an open fishery for all vessels for the relevant fishery management periods. All vessels that wish to participate in the fishery must be authorised to do so. Catch limits are not applied.

In September 2017, the landings of Boarfish were reviewed and it was decided that the Boarfish fishery should operate as an open fishery for all vessels as the uptake of Boarfish was low and has remained so.

Blue Whiting:

The nature of this fishery is that it is not suitable for fishing by smaller vessels.  In 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, the quota for Blue Whiting after a contingency amount has been deducted has been allocated to vessels in the following way:

- All 23 Refrigerated Sea Water (RSW) Pelagic segment vessels and 10 polyvalent vessels are authorised for this fishery.

- 91% of the quota remaining after the contingency has been deducted from the overall quota is allocated to the RSW pelagic vessels.

- 9% of the quota remaining after the contingency has been deducted from the overall quota is allocated to the 10 polyvalent vessels.

Horse Mackerel:

In 2020, 24 tonnes has been set aside from the overall Horse Mackerel quota for the summer fishery for vessels that are under 12 metres in length overall fishing exclusively by means of ring nets.

1,350 tonnes has been assigned to polyvalent vessels not included within the Policy for a directed fishery set in 2005.  24 tonnes of this amount has also been designated for the summer fishery for vessels that are under 12 metres in length overall fishing exclusively by means of ring nets.

The remaining quota has been assigned to the 29 vessels covered by the Policy for a directed fishery set in 2005:

- 23 RSW Pelagic segment Vessels – 88.3% of the allocation

- 6 Polyvalent Vessels – 11.7% of the allocation

In years 2019, 2018 and 2017 a similar approach to the allocation of Horse Mackerel allocation was taken.

Mackerel:

In 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, the quota for Mackerel after a contingency amount has been deducted has been allocated to vessels in the following way:

- 400 tonnes has been allocated to vessels under 15 metres in length overall fishing exclusively by hooks and lines

- 87% of the quota remaining after the contingency and 400 tonnes have been deducted from the overall quota are allocated to the RSW pelagic segment vessels

- 13% of the quota remaining after the contingency and 400 tonnes have been deducted from the overall quota are allocated to polyvalent vessels. This is broken down as follows:

- 76.5% is allocated to 15 Tier 1 vessels

- 21% to 12 Tier 2 vessels

- 2.5% to vessels operating in the under 18 metres open fishery

Sprat:

Up until 1^stJanuary 2020, the sprat fishery was operated as an open fishery for all vessels. From 1^stJanuary 2020, restrictions on large vessels trawling inside the 6 nautical mile zone have come into effect. These restrictions mean that all trawling by vessels over 18 metres in length overall is to cease, with derogations in place for a sprat fishery in 2020 and 2021 only. From 1^stJanuary 2022, all vessels over 18 metres in length overall will no longer be permitted to trawl for any stocks inside the 6 nautical mile zone.

Atlanto-Scandian Herring:

This fishery is not suitable for small scale fishing vessels.  In 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, the quota for Atlanto-Scandian Herring after a contingency amount has been deducted has been allocated to vessels in the following way:

- 85% of the quota is allocated to RSW Pelagic segment  vessels

- 15% of the quota is allocated to polyvalent vessels

Irish Sea Herring:

In 2017 a single pair of vessels received 200t, chosen by lottery.  The balance of the quota was swapped. In 2018, the available quota of 1,850 tonnes was allocated to 13 vessels chosen by lottery. In 2019, the available quota of 1,665 tonnes was allocated to 13 vessels chosen by lottery. The management arrangements for 2020 have not yet been finalised. 

In 2018 and 2019, the quota for Irish Sea Herring was allocated to the vessels of overall length less than 90 feet based on the registered length of vessels in feet as per the ratios set out below:

- Vessels > 80 ft - 80

- Vessels 65-79.99 ft - 60

- Vessels 50-64.99ft - 50

- Vessels 40- 49.99ft - 40

- Vessels <40ft – 30

(Note: The numbers above are weighted units that are used to determine the quota allocations per vessel and are not amounts in tonnes.)

Celtic Sea Herring:

The management arrangements for the Celtic Sea Herring fishery have not been finalised for the 2020 Autumn fishery which will be managed to support data collection for the stock.  In 2019, the fishery was closed early because of a high level of juvenile fish in the catch.  In 2017, 2018 and 2019 after a contingency amount was deducted, the quota was allocated in the following way:

- The Main fishery was assigned 84% of the quota

- The Sentinel fishery, which was confined to vessels under 17 metres in length overall and to the Dunmore box, received 11% of the quota

- The Open fishery, which was confined to vessels under 20 metres in length overall, received 5% of the quota.

North West Herring:

In 2017, 2018 and 2019, this fishery was operated as a scientific monitoring fishery and the Managment Policy (2012) has set aside.  Allocations have been made available to support the collection of data for the stock.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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929. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a report (details supplied), in particular its conclusions on sustainable fishing. [20136/20]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The 2019 Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services’ Global Assessment Report is extensive and well-informed and will be a useful reference for the sustainability of fisheries and the biodiversity of the seas around Ireland going forward. In recent years, good work has been carried out on improving the sustainability of fisheries and reducing the human impact on the seas around Ireland, and we intend to continue this work in earnest. 

The Programme for Government sets down an ambitious programme of actions that promote sustainable seafood industry,  technical measures that promote sustainability, decrease by-catch and protect fish stocks for the future,  aggressively tackle the issue of waste in our seas, work to eliminate illegal fishing and promote a culture of compliance.  The Programme for Government supports the principles and ambition of the EU Biodiversity Strategy and commits to develop legislation to identify, designate and mange Marine Protected Areas in Irish territorial waters.