Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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233. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the transparent and objective criteria used under Article 17 of the Common Fisheries Policy for allocating fishing opportunities. [50350/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In Ireland, quotas are a public resource and are managed to ensure that property rights are not granted to individual operators. This is seen as a critical policy in order to ensure that quotas are not concentrated into the hands of large fishing companies whose owners have the financial resources to buy up such rights. In Ireland, any movement towards privatisation and concentration of rights into the hands of large companies would seriously risk fishing vessels losing an economic link with Ireland’s coastal communities and undermining the socio-economic importance of the fishing industry in the coastal communities dependent on fishing. 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.

Whitefish (Demersal) Quotas are generally managed on a monthly basis with catch limits being set for each month. Consultation is carried out each month at the Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC) meeting involving fishing industry representatives from the catching and processing sectors, the Department and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority. The purpose of these meetings is to make recommendations to me on monthly/bi-monthly/quarterly regimes for particular stocks and, as far as possible, I follow their recommendations for regimes for particular stocks, 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 operate by examining in detail the operation of each fishery, uptake patterns and available quota for the different metiers of fishing vessels, including inshore fishing vessels. There are detailed discussions on allocations, often taking account of the divergent situation of the fleet and of the market. The QMAC may also take account of the weather/sea conditions in the preceding quota period and the impact this may have had on the industry during that period, particularly in respect of the smaller vessels. It also has the possibility of recommending additional catch limits to incentivise the introduction of environmentally friendly fishing gear in particular fisheries or for particular types of vessels.

The fish quota management system is designed to ensure, having regard to fishing patterns and market conditions, the best possible spread both between fishing vessel operators and in terms of take up of quota during the year. The 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 overarching policy on management arrangements can be determined by me following detailed analysis and full consultation with stakeholders, in particular the fishing industry.

A key objective of whitefish quota management is the avoidance of very early closure of fisheries through rapid exhaustion of quota. This is particularly important because our whitefish fisheries are mixed and an early closure would impact on other fisheries where there would be a potential by-catch of such stocks and would undermine the effective implementation of the landing obligation which prohibits discarding of fish at sea.

There are 9 principal managed pelagic stocks (Mackerel, Irish Sea Herring, Celtic Sea Herring, North West Herring, Atlanto-Scandian Herring, Horse Mackerel, Blue Whiting, Boarfish and Albacore Tuna) and the particular management of each is further subdivided between various sectors of the fleet. The fishing of pelagic species is generally confined to the spring and the autumn. Since 1 January 2015 pelagic stocks have also been subject to the landing obligation. Pelagic issues, effort issues and deep sea issues, where relevant, are also discussed at the QMAC and recommendations brought to my attention to inform my decision.