Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

169. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he made a case as part of the negotiation on the reformed Common Fisheries Policy for the extension of the exclusive coastal zone around member states of 12 miles to a more realistic level to protect coastal communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26904/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), EU fishing fleets are given equal access to EU waters and fishing grounds subject to allocated fish quotas.  There are derogations to this access rule, including restrictions on access to Member States' coastal waters.   

In Ireland’s case, other than Northern Irish vessels under the Voisinage Agreement, no EU Member State or Third Country has access to our 0-6 nautical miles zone.  France, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium have access for specific species in various areas of the 6-12 nautical mile zone along Ireland’s West, East and South coasts.  Ireland does not have access to any other Member States’ 6-12 nautical mile zones.

Last year, the European Commission published a proposal to rollover, for another ten years, the provisions relating to the restrictions on access to Member States' 6-12 nautical miles zones, as set out in the Common Fisheries Policy Basic Regulation (Regulation (EU) No. 1380/2013). 

I had sought that this issue be dealt with in the context of the CFP Review.  The matter of access to waters for fishing fleets is a sensitive issue and cannot be looked at in isolation.  However, the Commission views this as a technical amendment.  This means that the proposal is now moving ahead of the CFP review process. 

I am seeking exclusive access to the 12 nautical miles zone around Ireland for our own fishing fleet.  I believe that there is a strong case to be made to increase the protections for Ireland’s fishing fleets in these waters, particularly against the background of Brexit.   

I have had ongoing engagement with Commissioner Sinkevicius on this issue.  I have also been engaging with the French, Belgian, Dutch and German Fisheries Ministers.  Last month, I met with the French Fisheries Minister to further discuss my proposal and Ireland's concerns.  France is the most impacted of the four Member States and France currently has the Council Presidency.

Earlier this week, on the margins of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, I met with the Dutch and German Fisheries Ministers to discuss this matter further.

I highlighted in particular the unacceptable impact of the TCA on our fisheries and the importance of a re-examination and full review of the CFP to ensure a fair,  balanced and equitable policy, and explained the strong case for my proposal in relation to our 12 miles zone.   The dossier will be considered before the end of the month to agree a Council General Approach and I will continue to work to find a compromise that takes into account Ireland’s case for our 12 miles zone.