Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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178. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that he is taking to prevent the closure of the line caught mackerel fishery in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26969/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The management arrangements, within national policy, for the mackerel hook and line fishery have been on the agenda and discussed with industry representatives at recent meetings of the Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC). It is important to note that the remit of the QMAC is to examine and make recommendations within Ministerial policy. I asked the QMAC to examine measures to strengthen the management arrangements for the 2022 Mackerel hook and line fishery, within the policy, for my consideration.

A working group involving industry representatives recommended by the QMAC and the Department was put in place and made recommendations for the management of  2022 Fishery which were supported by the QMAC and which I have approved.  The arrangements involve:

- The available quota for the mackerel hook and line fishery for 2022 is 400 tonnes, as per the policy.

- The 2022 Mackerel Hook & Line fishery was opened by Fisheries Management Notice for all eligible vessels under 15 metres in length overall on 1st May 2022.

- Vessels equal to or greater than 10 metres in length overall are required to  book-in to receive an authorisation for the fishery. Vessels under 10 metres in length overall are not required to book-in to the fishery.

- As a condition of their authorisation, vessels equal to or greater than 10 metres are required to hail quantities over 50kg to the Irish Fisheries Monitoring Centre. This requirement is included in the authorisation document.

- A catch limit of 3 tonnes for under 15 metre fishing boats fishing mackerel by means of hooks and lines is set out in a Fisheries Management Notice for May and the same quantity for June.

- The fishery is to be closed by Fisheries Management Notice for any  month when the Department has been advised by the SFPA that the allocated quota has been taken.

- Remaining quota to be allocated for subsequent months having regard for the recommendations of QMAC.

The fishery is now open and the implementation of these arrangements will I hope assist in extending the length of this fishery this year.