Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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1544. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will meet with an organisation (details supplied) concerning ongoing issues in the inshore fishing sector. [12754/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise the Deputy that I meet regularly with fishing sector representatives and am cognisant of the concerns and goals of the inshore sector. In our Programme for Government, we committed to supporting the inshore fishing fleet in generating greater marketing and promotional capacity by facilitating the establishment of Producer Organisations for these smaller fishing vessels, thereby providing additional opportunity for the island and coastal communities involved in the inshore sector. In 2021, my Department completed the formal recognition process of the Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation (IIMRO) as an EU Producer Organisation that focuses on our offshore islands. In January this year, my Department also concluded the formal recognition process of the National Inshore Fishermen’s Association (NIFA) as an EU Producer Organisation for inshore fishers.

The National Inshore Fisheries Forum (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 and other agencies. The Strategy flowed from an extensive consultation process that engaged the inshore sector and other stakeholders.

The inshore fishing sector is a vital part of our coastal economies and communities. I am committed to supporting this and the wider seafood sector in achieving its potential. I look forward to continuing my engagement with the NIFF, as well as IIMRO and NIFA, and working on how this can be best achieved together.