Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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346. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on introducing a new decommissioning scheme in view of the reduction in Ireland’s fishing quota; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4935/21]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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350. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if individual fleet segments will be targeted in the decommissioning scheme; the safeguards that will be put in place to prevent unsustainable investment in other fleet segments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4940/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 346 and 350 together.

In the context of the Commission Proposal for a Regulation establishing a Brexit Adjustment Reserve, I am exploring a variety of possible measures to support our sector with the impacts of the quota transfers to the UK agreed under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. This is likely to include a Temporary Fleet Tie-up Scheme to support the sector in the short term as the effects of the quota transfers begin to affect fishing opportunities, with a possible Fleet Decommissioning Scheme to follow that would seek to re-balance the fleet with the reduced quotas available.

However, as I announced to the Dail last week, I propose to set up a Task Force involving seafood industry representatives and representatives of other stakeholders to provide recommendations to me on the appropriate measures that will best support the sector and the local coastal communities with the impacts of the quota cuts. I will be ensuring a broad representation of our seafood sector, as it is important that there is full buy-in to the process.

I will be asking the task force to immediately focus on arrangements for the Fleet Temporary Tie-up Scheme, so that it can be ready to go live as soon as it is needed. I also expect that the Task Force will provide prioritised recommendations on a range of other appropriate measures that will allow our seafood sector and coastal communities to adjust to the impacts of the quota reductions.

In relation to safeguards to protect against the investment of aid payments to introduce new vessels in other fleet segments, I note that a Decommissioning Scheme funded under the Reserve would require a State Aid Notification to the European Commission. Commission State Aid approval would likely require that it follow the rules for similar schemes implemented under the new European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, which provide that the beneficiary of Decommissioning aid is prohibited from registering any fishing vessel within five years.

I am also conscious of the 2016 Cost Benefit Analysis report from Grant Thornton, commissioned by BIM, which recommended that any decommissioning scheme should only be implemented if fleet management measures could be introduced that specifically avoids future expansion of the active fleet that undermines the economic benefits brought about through decommissioning, ensures the benefits of the scheme achieved are maintained for those remaining, and prevents any competitive advantage for those that availed of the scheme. I will be asking the Task Force to consider the issues raised in the Grant Thornton Report.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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347. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of landings of non-quota pelagic species including inter alia, sprat, anchovies, sardines and pilchards caught within Ireland’s six nautical mile territorial limit between 1 January and 31 December 2020; the baselines in 2020; the percentage of these landings that came from vessels over 18 metres in length; the number of vessels in that category that contributed to these landings; the percentage of these landings came from vessels under 18 metres in length; the number of vessels in this category that contributed to these landings in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4937/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The data requested by the Deputy is compiled by and available from the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA). Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's requests for this data to the SFPA for attention and direct reply.

Please note that, insofar as the requested data may relate to the ongoing legal actions in respect of the trawling ban on over 18 metre vessels inside 6 nautical miles and baselines, as this matter is sub judice, I am not in a position to comment until the matter can be resolved before the Courts.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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348. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to ensure there is an equitable level of representation of all sectors of the seafood industry on the task force he recently announced particularly the Inshore fishing sector which accounts for the majority of the wild capture sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4938/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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On 21 January, I announced in the Dáil my intention to set up a task force involving seafood industry representatives and representatives of other stakeholders to provide recommendations to me on the appropriate measures that will best support the sector and the local coastal communities with the impacts of the quota cuts.

My Department is urgently preparing the Terms of Reference for this Task Force and I will be ensuring a broad representation of our seafood sector, as it is important that there is full buy-in to the process. I will be asking the task force to immediately focus on arrangements for the Fleet Temporary Tie-up Scheme, so that it can be ready to go live as soon as it is needed.

I also expect that the Task Force will provide prioritised recommendations on a range of other appropriate measures that will allow our seafood sector and coastal communities to adjust to the impacts of the quota reductions.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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349. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of active off-register or on-shelf replacement capacity tonnage and kilowatts in existence in the refrigerated sea water polyvalent general on vessels over 18 metres and polyvalent under 18 metres fleet segments; the way in which this replacement capacity could prevent the objectives of any decommissioning scheme; and the action he is taking to address the matter. [4939/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003 transferred the functions of sea-fishing boat licensing from the Minister to the Licensing Authority for Sea-fishing Boats, which operates on an independent basis subject to criteria set out in that Act and Ministerial Policy Directives. The Licensing Authority is the Registrar General of Fishing Boats, an official of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine or, under the superintendence of the Registrar General, the Deputy Registrar General of Fishing Boats.

The Registrar General of Fishing Boats is charged with maintaining a Register of Fishing Boats and with the proper management of the capacity of the Irish fleet.

Capacity in the form of gross tonnage and engine power is not an asset owned by the Department or by the Licensing Authority. It is a privately owned tradable asset that, with certain exceptions, may be sold, traded or realised as a financial asset on the tonnage market (as the owner deems appropriate). Only off-register capacity (i.e. capacity from a vessel which has been removed from the Fishing Boat Register) may be sold or traded etc. All transfers of capacity must be approved by the Licensing Authority.

Mackerel fleet policy is governed by Ministerial Policy Directive 1/2011, as amended by Policy Directives 2/2011 and 1/2017.The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food determined which polyvalent vessels, or off-register polyvalent capacity qualified for classification as 'Tier 1" or 'Tier 2". These determinations were notified to the Licensing Authority. The Licensing Authority noted these determinations and separately 'ring-fenced' Tier 1 and Tier 2 vessels and capacity within the polyvalent segment of the fleet.

The Registrar General has advised me of the "Active" Off-Register capacity as at 31 December 2020 and this is outlined in the table below:

*Of which, 9GT & 91.66 kW is "ring-fenced" as Tier 1, 292.3GT & 705.5 kW is "ring-fenced" as Tier 2

**None of which is "ring-fenced" as Tier 1 or Tier 2 capacity

In the context of the Commission Proposal for a Regulation establishing a Brexit Adjustment Reserve, I am exploring a variety of possible measures to support our sector with the impacts of the quota transfers to the UK agreed under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. This is likely to include a Temporary Fleet Tie-up Scheme to support the sector in the short term as the effects of the quota transfers begin to effect fishing opportunities.

On 21 January, I announced in the Dáil my intention to set up a task force involving seafood industry representatives and representatives of other stakeholders to provide recommendations to me on appropriate measures to support our seafood sector and coastal communities with the impacts of the quota cuts. My Department and Bord Iascaigh Mhara will be working closely with the Taskforce over the coming months.