Written answers

Thursday, 9 March 2023

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Fisheries Protection

Photo of Pádraig Mac LochlainnPádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

372. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends to introduce regulations on limiting the number of pots under each licence held by inshore fishermen around the coast. [12171/23]

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

The Irish inshore fishing fleet consists of fishing boats of less than 12 metres overall length and covers in the region of 1,700 fishing boats which are mainly active within six nautical miles of the shore. Lobster and crab are particularly important species for the inshore fishing fleet and are fished predominantly using pots right around the coast. Any Irish sea-fishing boat with the appropriate licence conditions is eligible to fish for such species.

The Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003 transferred the functions of sea-fishing boat licensing to the Licensing Authority for Sea-fishing Boats, which operates on an independent basis subject to criteria set out in that Act and Ministerial Policy Directives. The Licensing Authority is the Registrar General of Fishing Boats, an official of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine or, under the superintendence of the Registrar General, the Deputy Registrar General of Fishing Boats. All applications for sea-fishing boat licences are considered by the Licensing Authority.

Generally, pot fishing is considered to be sustainable as it is a selective method of fishing which makes it possible to return undersized species to the sea alive. However, regulations were introduced in 2016 (S.I. No. 31/2016 - Non-Commercial Pot Fishing (Lobster and Crab) Regulations) to protect the licensed fishing industry which had faced increased competition from non-commercial or recreational fishers and to help to ensure the sustainability of these stocks. Under these regulations, any member of the public, fishing for lobster and crab can only fish from 1st May to 30th September each year and are limited in the number of pots that can be fished. Non-commercial or recreational fishers can fish up to six pots, and can retain five crabs and one lobster daily. In addition, such fishers are not permitted to sell their catches.

I can assure the Deputy that I remain acutely conscious of the importance of sustainable inshore fisheries and balancing this with safeguarding fishing-related livelihoods and protecting the marine environment. The National and Regional Inshore Fora were established to provide, among other things, a mechanism for inshore fishers to discuss and identify a variety of sustainable management measures for inshore stocks I would encourage fishers to bring suggestions and initiatives for the sustainable management of inshore stocks to the attention of their local Regional Inshore Fisheries Forum. Information regarding the Forums, including contact details, is available at the Forums' dedicated website: inshoreforums.ie/

Photo of Pádraig Mac LochlainnPádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

373. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how he and his Department are ensuring the implementation of Article 17 of the Common Fisheries Policy in this State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12172/23]

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

In Ireland, fishing quotas are a public resource and are managed to ensure that property rights are not granted to individual operators. This is seen as a critical policy to ensure that quotas are not concentrated into the hands of large fishing companies whose owners have the financial resources to buy up such rights. It is worth noting that within the EU, a significant number of quota systems have been privatised for their main commercial stocks.

The Irish policy approach helps to support a fishing fleet based around the Irish coastline. This means that the Irish fishing fleet is made up of various sizes and types of fishing vessels who have retained a strong economic link with our coastal communities and have provided vital employment in these communities, where there are limited alternative economic activities. Any movement towards privatisation of fishing rights would seriously risk fishing vessels losing an economic link with Ireland’s coastal communities. This could have devastating consequences and Ministers continually work closely with the fishing industry to ensure this does not happen.

Consultation on the management of quotas within National Policy is carried out each month at the Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC) meeting involving fishing industry representatives from the catching and processing sectors, the Department and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA). The QMAC examines in detail the operation of each fishery, available quota and uptake patterns for the different metiers of fishing vessels. Detailed discussions are held taking account of the situation of the fleet and the market. The recommendations of the QMAC are brought to my attention to inform my decision on the management arrangements within National Policy.

The Committee also has the possibility of recommending additional catch limits to incentivise the introduction of environmentally friendly fishing gear in particular fisheries or for particular types of vessels.

All vessels under 55 feet in length receive the same catch limit which includes small scale coastal fishers licensed to fish for whitefish. The important pelagic stocks of mackerel and herring also have allocations made available, in accordance with Ministerial National policy, supporting smaller vessels. I have recently launched a public consultation on a review of the 2012 Herring Management Policy, in relation to the quantity of herring set aside from the southern North-West herring stock (Herring 6A South) for smaller/ inshore fishing vessels.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.