Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1102. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the implications of a court case in a European jurisdiction (details supplied) on the allocation of the bluefin tuna quota by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17207/23]

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

I am not familiar with the case referred to as it occurred in another Member State but I am happy to outline the approach to Bluefin Tuna Quota allocation in the Irish context.

Ireland does not have a national quota for Bluefin Tuna. The available Bluefin Tuna quota is allocated each year to Member States based on relative stability as established in the late 1990s. At that time, Ireland did not have a track record of commercial fishing for Bluefin Tuna and, accordingly, did not receive a quota allocation.

A small Bluefin Tuna by-catch quota is available to Ireland, primarily for use in our important Northern Albacore Tuna fishery and Celtic Sea Herring fishery where there can be Bluefin Tuna by-catch.

In 2018, Ireland was successful, for the first time, in securing an agreement that allowed Ireland to set up a catch-tag-release fishery to contribute to the collection of scientific data for the Bluefin tuna stock. A Catch-Tag-Release science-based fishery for authorised recreational angling vessels has been in place since 2019 and supports the collection of valuable data on the migratory patterns of Bluefin Tuna in Irish waters. This fishery is most beneficial to Ireland as it increases our knowledge of the behaviour and abundance of Bluefin tuna in Northwestern waters while also providing a small but valuable tourism benefit to peripheral coastal communities.

A new Bluefin Tuna management plan was adopted at November’s International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) meeting, which will see an increase for all contracting parties with a share of the Bluefin Tuna Total Allowable Catch, including the EU.

I wish to assure the Deputy that Ireland made clear to EU Member States and the European Commission at the EU internal meetings during the course of the ICCAT meeting that Ireland considers that there is a case for an allocation of part of the increase in the Bluefin Tuna quota to be made available to Ireland for a targeted fishery. The case is supported by the data collected in the Catch-Tag-Release science-based fishery for authorised recreational angling vessels.

I therefore requested the opening of discussions at EU level to progress our case and I made a formal statement to this effect at December Agrifish Council. My Department raised this matter again during EU internal meetings at last month’s ICCAT Intersessional Panel 2 meeting. Opening up this issue is challenging as other Member States are resistant to any discussion on amending relative stability for this stock, but I believe that there is a strong case for Ireland, given the abundance of Bluefin Tuna in our waters and I will continue to pursue it at every opportunity.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1103. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide his response to the conclusions of a report (details supplied) concerning the economic impact of the Irish small-scale fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17208/23]

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

I welcome the publication of the Economic analysis of the Irish small-scale fleet and its findings. Studies such as this have a significant value in contributing to the implementation of the industry-led Irish Inshore Fisheries Sector Strategy 2019-2023, particularly in building an accurate profile of this segment of the fleet.

The projected estimates for 2022 highlight the challenges which the fishing sector had faced in that year and further highlight the issues which I have discussed in my engagements with fishing representatives over the past months. I committed in particular to keep fuel costs under review and it is a welcome signal that these have returned to similar, lower levels experienced prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

It is also an encouraging conclusion in the report that output from the Irish Inshore sector is highly appreciated internationally with increasing demand in Europe and Asia. The Brexit Inshore Marketing scheme which I announced last year and which is continuing into 2023 will assist in developing this demand in both the domestic and international markets resulting in greater opportunities for small scale fishers.

The report also recognises the implementation of the Task Force recommendations. These recommendations were shaped by industry participation on the Task Force, including representation of the Inshore sector, and it has been a priority to develop schemes based on these recommendations. The Inshore Business Model Adjustment Scheme has provided short term support as requested by the sector while other schemes have focused on capitalising on opportunities for growth and development. This is in addition to ongoing EMFF funded supports.

While it is not specified what form it should take, the recommendation for further support is noted and I expect to engage further with the sector in this regard. In December 2022, Ireland’s EMFAF Seafood Development Programme was adopted. The Programme gives a particular focus to small scale coastal fishers and under this programme supports will be developed to assist in the development of the sector. Necessary building blocks to inform the approach to developing the sector, such as the Inshore census mentioned in the economic analysis paper, will be core in guiding the implementation of the programme.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1104. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken in response to the call in the European Parliament resolution of 7 June 2022 on the implementation of Article 17 of the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation (2021/2168(INI)) for member states to design allocation systems so as to guarantee simplicity, avoid burdensome bureaucratic processes and, ultimately, allow operators and stakeholders to monitor the allocation criteria and process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17209/23]

Charlie 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.

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. 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.

In December 2017, a quota balancing policy for pelagic stocks was developed with the QMAC as a conservation measure to align the principles of the landing obligation to Ireland’s quota management system. Quota balancing means that when a catch limit allocated to a vessel is exceeded, a balancing adjustment will be made from future allocations of fishing opportunities and will operate independently of any other action being considered by the control authorities. Pelagic stocks have been quota balanced for all years commencing in 2018.

Quota balancing for five key demersal (whitefish) stocks was implemented in 2020 and 2021. From 1 January 2022, four additional demersal stocks became subject to Quota Balancing.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1105. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken in response to recommendation 2.5.2.1 in the report of the seafood task force concerning inshore short-term support, including the amount of funding for this scheme sought under the de minimis provision as per Commission Regulation (EU) No 717/2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17210/23]

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

The Brexit Inshore Fisheries Business Model Adjustment Scheme was developed in response to the recommendation by the Seafood Task Force for a deminimis short-term support scheme for the inshore sector to help it deal with the difficult trading conditions that have arisen because of Brexit. The scheme was designed to assist inshore fishers to adjust their business and marketing plans to the post Brexit environment. The scheme was open to all active and eligible Inshore fishers and a budget of €3.7 million was made available.

Under this scheme, BIM provided four dedicated online training modules to participants. These included “Adjusting your Seafood Business Plan post Brexit”, “Reaching new customers - tailored digital skills for inshore fishing businesses”, “Alternative Market Opportunities for your Inshore Catch” and “Understanding your Market and Maximising the Return from your Inshore Catch”.

Grant aid was provided to all participants who undertook one of these training modules, to put learnings from the modules into practice. Grant rates were €2,700 for vessels under 8 metres up to €4,000 for larger inshore vessels. Over 800 fishers took part in the scheme.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1106. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken in response to recommendation 2.5.3.1. in the report of the seafood task force concerning an inshore marketing initiative, including the amount spent to date on the provision of marketing and promotional support to the inshore fisheries sector of the €2.5 million recommended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17211/23]

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

In March 2022, in response to this Task Force recommendation I announced the launch of the Brexit Inshore Marketing Scheme. This scheme, which operated through 2022 and is continuing in 2023 is delivered by Bord Bia to promote sales of stocks of interest to inshore fishers, in order to boost prices at the quayside. It focuses on supporting the sales and promotion of inshore species such as Irish crab, lobster, whelks, inshore herring/mackerel and line caught hake and pollock on both the domestic and export markets. €1 million in funding has been provided through the Brexit Adjustment Reserve to support the initial two years of the Scheme and Bord Bia fully utilised the €0.5m allocated in 2022, with similar performance expected in 2023.

The Task Force recommendation specifies that the €2.5m marketing fund be delivered over a 5-year period and to deliver on this recommendation for the inshore sector a further 3 years of this scheme will be delivered under the recently adopted European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (2021-2027) Operational Programme from next year onwards.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1107. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken in response to recommendation 2.5.4.1. in the report of the seafood task force concerning an inshore processing support, including the amount spent to date on the provision to shellfish processing enterprises to support the development of the inshore sector and protect employment within coastal communities of the €10 million recommended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17212/23]

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

In making the recommendation for support for the Inshore processing sector, the Task Force noted that this should be funded through a combination of capital support for processors as well as funding for Community Led Local Development initiatives targeted at the inshore sector.

I was pleased to announce the €45 million Brexit Seafood Processing Support Scheme in May 2022. The scheme offers grant rates of between 30% and 50% for capital investment in SME seafood processing enterprises, varying depending on the degree of value added in the project.

The scheme seeks to support SMEs in all segments of processing sector, including inshore related processing, to engage in transformational change, mitigating the effects of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and Brexit. It also seeks to build more environmentally friendly, sustainable and competitive enterprises which serve the EU and wider global markets, create higher levels of employment more locally, and make better and more sustainable use of Irish landed or imported raw material. The scheme is aimed at supporting industry-led transformative capital investments that enable the sector to focus on 'creating more from less' in the wake of reduced supply of raw material. It is also aimed at moving enterprises in the sector further up the supply chain to produce higher value products and shift the industry to a focus on secondary processing and beyond to products targeting end-user markets.

In 2022 I also announced the €25 million Brexit Blue Economy Enterprise Development Scheme to facilitate community led local development. The scheme supports entrepreneurial initiatives which are located within 10kms of the coastline. Capital grants are available under the scheme with priority given to enterprises that are directly involved in inshore fisheries.

Approved projects must be completed in advance of payments being made to eligible beneficiaries. Given the nature of capital investments, the majority of projects will not be completed until later this year at which stage payments under these schemes will be made. Following the completion of BAR schemes in 2023, new initiatives will be launched under my Department’s EMFAF Seafood Development Programme.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1108. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken in response to recommendation 2.6.4.1. in the report of the seafood task force concerning public marine infrastructure, including the amount spent to date on the development of publicly owned marine infrastructure of the €80 million recommended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17213/23]

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

I established the Seafood Sector Taskforce to address the impacts arising on the seafood sector from the EU/UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The Deputy may be aware that in January 2022 I launched the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme 2022-2023 exclusively for the rejuvenation of local authority owned public piers and harbours based on the recommendations of the Taskforce Report. The Scheme is a unique initiative designed to support job creation and protection by distributing Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) funds to enhance, upgrade, modernise and develop publicly owned coastal and marine infrastructure to facilitate diversification of economic opportunities.

In April 2022 I announced initial funding of €31.7m under the Scheme for 110 projects. Following the second call for applications in December 2022, I increased this funding to €55.3m including approval for 54 additional projects and a higher rate of funding for all projects. Details of the funding allocated is available online at gov.ie - McConalogue announces increased Brexit Investment in Public Marine Infrastructure - total now €55.3 million (www.gov.ie). Funding from the BAR must be availed of before the end of 2023. Reimbursement of €1.4m was made to 5 local authorities in 2022 for 13 completed projects. Final expenditure under the Scheme will not be available until later in 2023.

In addition I have also continued funding for capital investment in the Fishery Harbour Centres and a small number of other locations under my Department's remit. €31.9m was expended on such projects in 2022, and I have allocated €37.3m for 2023.