Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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279. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has instructed the QMAC to examine measures to strengthen the management arrangements for the 2023 mackerel hook and line fishery given the unjustifiable inequity of the present Irish mackerel quota allocation arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14127/23]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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282. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has instructed the Quota Management Advisory Committee to examine measures to strengthen the management arrangements for the 2023 mackerel hook and line fishery given the unjustifiable inequity of the present Irish mackerel quota allocation arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14287/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 282 together.

In early 2022, I asked the Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC) to examine measures to strengthen the management arrangements for the 2022 Mackerel Hook and Line Fishery, within policy, for my consideration. A working group was set up involving industry representatives and my Department officials and recommendations made, approved by me, were put in place for the management of the 2022 fishery.

In preparation for the 2023 Fishery, I have asked Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) to explore how marketing opportunities could be developed for the Mackerel Hook and Line Fishery. BIM have advised that they are working with Bord Bia and an external provider, and that work is progressing well. The project group are involved in stakeholder interviews and consultation with National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF), Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation (IIMRO), National Inshore Fisherman’s Association (NIFA), processors, retail, fishmongers, seafood restaurants and food service. The project is due to be reported on at the end of March.

Following on from the project, BIM hope to explore with Bord Bia the potential for running a marketing campaign for hook and line mackerel to align with the fishing season.

I am confident that it will help build up the return for this valuable fishery.

The role of the QMAC is to make recommendations for the management of the quota within existing policy. At the February 2023 Quota Management Advisory Committee Meeting, industry representatives recommended that the fishery be opened in March and that the management arrangements applied in 2022 should remain in place for 2023. They recommended that the fishery open on the 20th of March with a 4.50t catch limit for the period 20th March to 30th of April. To maintain quota for the remainder of the year, the fishery will be closed by Fishery Management Notice for the month of April if the Department is advised by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) that 150 tonnes has been taken. Recommendations on per vessel catch limits for May and subsequent months to be made at the relevant Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC) meeting.