Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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184. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the sectors to be included in the eel fisheries compensation scheme; and if the scheme will include provisions for businesses producing artisan food such as eel smokehouses. [26494/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Fishing for eel in Ireland was by way of public licence issued annually and such licences do not confer rights on the holder. Consequently the issue of compensation does not arise.However, in consideration of the economic and social impacts of Ireland’s Eel Management Plan (EMP), reported by fishermen, the Government’s Eel Support Scheme fund was made available from 2018. The EMP, required under EU Regulation 1100/2007 was approved by the European Commission in 2009

The fund was made available to former eel fishermen, following liaison with the European Commission and the Revenue Commissioners. 

The scheme was available to all persons who were the holder of a State commercial public eel licence or an eel fishing permit in the 2007 season (the base year).  The scheme provided payments to former fishermen based on their track record in the 5 year period 2003-2007. 

All payments to qualifying applicants have been made and the fund is now closed.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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185. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if recent surveys have been carried out into the current eel population; and if he will consider the relicensing of eel fishing if there is evidence of a substantial population increase. [26495/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) undertakes ongoing research and monitoring of eel populations every year.  My Department has recently approved funding to facilitate continuation of this research. Ireland introduced its Eel Management Plan under EU Regulation 1100/2007 in 2009, following approval by the European Commission. In addition to annual research and in line with the requirements of the EU Regulation, Ireland’s Plan was reviewed in 2012, 2015 and 2018 and each review included a detailed scientific and research element. Further reviews will be undertaken as required by the Regulation.

The European eel is a panmithic stock – a single stock across the entire continent - which spawns in the Sargasso Sea before arriving into European rivers and lakes.  The distribution is naturally random between countries. 

Ireland follows the objective of the EU Regulation which aims to ensure that escapement of eels to the sea should be at 40% relative to “pristine conditions” - those pertaining in the early 1980s which was the reference years selected.

The latest advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) is that the species remains critically endangered and that recruitment of juveniles in the Northern part of the Atlantic is currently at 1% relative to pristine conditions.  This advice states that anthropogenic (man-made) mortality should be kept at zero or as close to zero as possible.   

Given the very long maturation period of each generation of eels in Irish waters, the impact of the very low annual recruitment of juvenile eels for more than 25 years means that recovery of the stock will only be sustained over the long term by commitment to consistent and equally long term conservation measures.