Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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319. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the monitoring of factory ships (details supplied) taking place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4697/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), EU fishing fleets are given equal access to EU waters and fishing grounds subject to allocated fish quotas.

Fishing vessels, irrespective of size, must comply with the rules of the CFP, which include rules in relation to access and catch limits/quota.

In relation to access to Ireland's coastal waters by foreign vessels, I would point out that, on the north-west coast, all foreign fishing vessels are excluded from Ireland's 12 mile fishing zone, other than for transit or shelter purposes. All foreign pelagic fishing vessels are also precluded from fishing in Ireland's 12 mile fishing zone on the west coast. Irish fishing vessels greater than or equal to 36.58m (120 feet) in length are also precluded from fishing in Ireland's 12 mile zone.

Changes to fisheries policy involving access or restriction to fishing opportunities or fishing areas come within the sole competence of the EU. Member States are permitted to introduce non-discriminatory conservation and mangement measures within their 12 mile zone, subject to compliance with policy and procedures set down in the CFP. Member States may also adopt conservation measures for their own fleet, subject to compliance with policy and procedures.

As an EU common policy, any proposal for amendment to policy must, in the first instance, be made by the EU Commission. Any proposal of this nature would be expected to have broad application to EU waters and would be expected to apply to all fishing vessels of a particular size or using identified non-sustainable fishing gear. It would appear that your query relates to large fishing vessels targeting pelagic stocks such as mackerel, horse mackerel and herring. As you will be aware, the Irish fleet includes such fishing vessels. In relation to Ireland's position to any such proposal from the EU Commission, it would be essential to have regard for the potential impacts on the Irish fleet.

The European Commission has proposed amendments to the EU Fisheries control framework and negotiations on the new Fisheries Control Regulation are currently ongoing in both the EU Council and the European Parliament. Ireland is supportive of many of the proposed changes in the Commission proposal that strengthen the EU arrangements for control, inspection and enforcement.

Ireland's control authorities, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Naval Service, are responsible for the monitoring and control of fishing vessels, including large fishing vessels targeting pelagic stocks, in our Exclusive Fisheries Zone to ensure compliance with the rules of the CFP.