Written answers

Thursday, 17 September 2020

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Fishing Industry

Photo of Pádraig Mac LochlainnPádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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227. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has decided on the 2020 management arrangements for the Celtic Sea Herring scientific fishery; if so, if he is satisfied that these arrangements will not only meet the sampling requirement to provide data to the Marine Institute but also make the best use of the quota from a socioeconomic perspective; if he is satisfied that the quota is being allocated in line with Article 17 of the Common Fisheries Policy which allows quota to be allocated on grounds of socioeconomic and environmental impact along with allocation based on historical track record; and if he is confident that the arrangements will maximise the use of the quota to assist the beleaguered inshore fleet that have not been fortunate enough to benefit from the 40% increase in 2020 in the mackerel quota. [24501/20]

Photo of Pádraig Mac LochlainnPádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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228. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that the advice of the Celtic Sea Herring Management Advisory Committee represents the best use of the quota in terms of meeting the sampling requirement to provide data to the Marine Institute but also make the best use of the quota from a socioeconomic perspective; and if he is satisfied that the advice of the committee reflects the views of all stakeholders in particular those in the inshore sector that make up over 80% of the Irish fleet and are responsible for over 50% of direct employment in the sector. [24502/20]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 227 and 228 together.

The Celtic Sea Herring stock occurs to the south of Ireland. It is prosecuted by two fleets, the main fleet which operates across the Celtic Sea (primarily ICES division 7g) and the sentinel fleet comprising of vessels that are under 17 metres in length overall that operate in the Dunmore box (inshore waters in Dunmore East area).

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 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. 

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 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.  

Within the 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) and, for the Celtic Sea herring fishery, the Celtic Sea Herring Management Advisory Committee (CSHMAC) which was set up in 2005 to provide advice to the Minister in relation to the management of the Celtic Sea Herring Stock and fishery within the policy framework set by the Minister.  The Committee is comprised of representatives from the four Fish Producer Organisations, the Fish Co-Ops and Processors and, since 2016, the National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF).  The Committee meets at relevant intervals during the year to discuss issues of concern to the fishery such as scientific advice regarding the state of the stock and also proposals in relation to future management arrangements within the Minister's policy.

The Celtic Sea Herring stock is at one of its lowest stock levels since 1958 and the ICES advice for 2020 was for zero catch. In 2019, the European Commission submitted a special request to ICES to “provide advice on the minimum level of catches (tonnage) required in a sentinel fishery, which would provide sufficient data for ICES in order to continue providing scientific advice on the state of this stock”. The EU Council adopted a Total Allowable Catch for the stock in line with ICES advice which gives Ireland 750 tonnes quota for 2020 specifically to allow a fisheries-based data collection for this stock.

The management arrangements for the 2020 Celtic Sea Herring fishery have not yet been finalised. In setting down the management arrangements for this fishery, I have regard for the recommendations of the CSHMAC, subject to the proper management and rational exploitation of the fishery.

The Marine Institute has been consulted to provide scientific advice to ensure that the data requirements for ICES, in order to continue providing scientific advice on the state of this stock, will be satisfied. Prior to finalising the management arrangements for this fishery, the recommendation received by my Department from the CSHMAC will be reviewed by me in tandem with the scientific advice provided by the Marine Institute to ensure that the sampling requirements of the Marine Institute will be met. 

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