Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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958. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to ensure a more equitable distribution of the mackerel quota regarding the inshore fishing fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8025/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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An allocation of 400 tonnes for a fishery for smaller vessels (under 15 metre vessels) fishing for Mackerel by means of hooks and line, which is prosecuted by the inshore fleet, was set down in Policy in 2010.  The then Minister amended the Mackerel policy in July 2017 after intensive review and public consultation, however this particular amendment did not involve the hook and line fishery.  

In order to amend Mackerel Policy, I must be satisfied that there is satisfactory evidence of changed circumstances to justify a policy review.  If I consider there is a case for review of any aspect of policy, it will require due process, involving an assessment of all issues arising, including a full public consultation. 

There has been, for the past 20 years or so, intensive competition within the industry for a higher share of the mackerel quota. The EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) provides for the transfer of 26% of Ireland’s mackerel quota to the UK by 2026.  This will only increase demands for a higher share of Ireland’s Mackerel quota from all sectors within the fishing fleet. The Deputy should be aware that the 400 tonne limit for the hook and line fishery has not been reduced and has remained the same as in previous years.

Unfortunately, the situation is that if there is an increase in the Mackerel quota for any sector in the allocation made available, such as for the hook and line fishery, it must be taken from others who are already facing significant cuts under the TCA.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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959. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps the Quota Management Advisory Committee is taking to avoid early closure of fisheries in 2022. [8026/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC) is a formal consultative committee, involving fishing industry representatives from the catching and processing sectors.  The  Committee makes 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.

Whitefish (Demersal) Quotas are generally managed on a monthly basis with catch limits being set for each month.

The QMAC operate by examining in detail the operation of each fishery, uptake patterns and available quota for the different metiers of 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. It also has the possibility of recommending to me additional catch limits to incentivise the introduction of environmentally friendly fishing gear in particular fisheries or for particular types of vessels. 

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. Monthly Fishery Management Notices, signed by me, support the management of Ireland’s fisheries and are published on the Department’s website: gov.ie - Fisheries Management Notices 2022 (www.gov.ie).Pelagic stocks are managed on a monthly, seasonal or yearly basis in accordance with Ministerial Management Policy for each individual stock.

My Department carryout quota swaps with other EU Member States with the objective to fully maximise, wherever possible, fishing opportunities for Ireland’s fishing sector and ensuring the avoidance of early closure of fisheries.  Each swap proposal is considered on a case-by-case basis by my Department taking into account the views and recommendation of the QMAC and taking into account ratios and market prices to ensure all agreed swaps are equitable. 

Quotas are swapped on a temporary basis but continuously repeated yearly exchange is also possible. Ireland has long established relationships with a number of EU member states where certain swaps are carried out on a yearly basis, provided Ireland has sufficient quota available for the stock for the area.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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960. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on all vessels on the polyvalent register being allocated equal quota of mackerel based on the national allocation via monthly and weekly vessel authorisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8027/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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There are a number of opportunities for Irish fishing vessels to target Mackerel which are open to polyvalent vessels only and these are set down in the Mackerel Management Policy  which was adopted after a full review and public consultation.

There are 4 categories of polyvalent vessels permitted to land mackerel. In accordance with policy 13% of the national annual quota (6,739 tonnes in 2022) is available for this segment.

Mackerel Policy provides that 76.50% of the 13% (5,155 tonnes in 2022) is made available to 15 Tier 1 vessels, and 21% of the 13% (1,415 tonnes in 2022) is made available to 12 Tier 2 vessels. Tier 1 and Tier 2 vessels receive a catch limit for the period 01 January to 30 November each year. 

The remaining 2.50% of the 13% quota available for polyvalent vessels (168 tonnes in 2022) is made available to under 18 metres vessels fishing for mackerel by means other than hook and line.  Catch limits are set by monthly Fisheries Management Notice. The catch limit for the month of February is 2 tonnes.

An allocation of 400 tonnes for a fishery for smaller vessels (under 15 metre vessels) fishing for Mackerel by means of hooks and line was set down in Policy in 2010.  The then Minister amended the Mackerel policy in July 2017 after intensive review and public consultation, however this amendment did not involve the hook and line fishery. The 400 tonnes is taken off the top of the annual national quota and does not come out of the 13% polyvalent quota.