Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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184. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that he is taking to support the inshore fishing sector. [61000/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise the Deputy that I meet directly with the National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF) to hear the concerns and goals of the inshore fishing sector. The NIFF and its supporting network of six Regional Inshore Fisheries Forums are consultative bodies established to foster industry-led development of proposals for the management of fish stocks within six nautical miles of the Irish shore. Since their inception, the Forums have developed initiatives to protect the future of the inshore sector. The NIFF brought forward the first industry-led Strategy for the sector in 2019 and is now implementing this with support from my Department, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) and other agencies. The Strategy flowed from an extensive consultation process that engaged the inshore sector and other stakeholders.

In relation to financial supports, my Department's European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) 2014-2020 programme has made public funding available for the sustainable development of our fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors. This Programme has been providing a range of financial supports to our inshore fishing sector for capital investment on board and ashore, for training and for organisation and capacity building within the sector, while State bodies provide a range of services to the inshore fleet including advisory services and stock conservation supports. 

The successor to the EMFF, the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund has been developed for Ireland in a collaborative manner with input from a wide range of stakeholders in the seafood and marine sphere. This is aimed at developing the seafood sector in a sustainable manner while also protecting our valuable marine environment. The programme, which has been approved by Government and is awaiting European Commission adoption, is a long-term plan which will support a much wider range of stakeholders up until 2027.

Following Brexit and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, I established the Seafood Task Force, which included representation from the inshore fisheries sector. This Task Force made a series of 16 recommendations to assist the seafood sector in terms of both short-term survival and long-term transformation. Since its publication I have launched supports and developmental strategies worth €225 million.

For the inshore fleet, a Brexit Inshore Fisheries Business Model Adjustment Scheme operated over January to March and was availed of by 798 inshore fishing vessel owners to assist in adjusting their business to the post Brexit environment. In addition, a Brexit Inshore Marketing Scheme is underway in promoting stocks of interest to inshore fishers to support prices at the quayside. Other investments such as the Brexit Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme will provide support for local authorities to renew important local infrastructure that will facilitate both fishing activities, particularly by smaller inshore vessels, and the growth of our blue economy.

In the Programme for Government - Our Shared Future, the Government commits to ensuring “that inshore waters continue to be protected for smaller fishing vessels and recreational fishers and that pair trawling will be prohibited inside the six-mile limit.” I am fully supportive of this objective. The Government also committed to supporting the inshore sector with establishing a Producer Organisation to generate greater marketing and promotional capacity. In 2021, my Department recognised the Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation as a Producer Organisation.

My Department is committed to supporting the inshore community and the wider seafood sector in achieving its potential.  I look forward to continuing my engagement with the NIFF and working on how this can be best achieved together.