Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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756. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of take-up of the Brexit tie-up scheme in the fisheries sector; the financial support that will be available to domestic retailers who will be without supply in many instances due to the tie-up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58701/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I launched a Brexit Temporary Fleet Tie-up Scheme in September 2021 on foot of the recommendation for such a scheme in the Report of the Seafood Sector Task Force - Navigating Change (October 2021). The Scheme was established as a targeted measure for certain segments of the fishing fleet to mitigate the loss of income in 2021 arising from the significant quota reductions under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The scheme is administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara and is proposed for funding under the EU Brexit Adjustment Reserve.

As recommended by the Task Force, the scheme is open to whitefish vessels in the Polyvalent and Beam Trawl segments of the fishing fleet and provides aid to vessels opting to tie-up for a calendar month during the October to December period, thereby freeing up quota for vessels that remain fishing. Vessels excluded by the UK from the Rockall squid fishery are eligible for an additional month of tie-up.

BIM has confirmed to me that a total of 219 applications have been made for tie-up in either October, November or December 2021. BIM advises that the number of number of successful applicants can be expected to be lower, as eligibility checks remain ongoing at this point.

With respect to domestic seafood retailers, I understand that representatives of the fishing sector on the Task Force undertook to carefully manage supply during the period of the scheme. The report of the Task Force made no specific recommendations for financial supports to seafood retailers.