Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In Ireland, fishing quota is a public resource and is managed to provide for proper management, conservation and rational use of the State’s fishing quotas. It is managed as a public good that ensures that property rights are not granted to individual operators. The result of this long-standing policy is that the Irish fishing fleet involves a balanced spread of sizes and types of fishing vessels who have retained a strong economic link with our coastal communities and have delivered economic activity including vital employment in these communities, where there are very limited alternative economic activities.

Our fish quota management system is designed to ensure the best possible spread, both between fishing vessel operators and in terms of take up of quota throughout the year, having regard to fishing patterns and market conditions.

The arrangements have been set and developed over many years since the commencement of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the introduction of quotas. Any amendments or changes to the over arching policy on management arrangements are determined by the Minister following detailed analysis and full consultation with stakeholders, in particular the fishing industry.

There are a number of opportunities for vessels to target pelagic stocks which are open only to smaller inshore fishing vessels.

In the case of Mackerel, Mackerel policy provides that 2.50% of the 13% quota available for polyvalent vessels be made available to vessels under 18m length overall without an authorisation and fishing for Mackerel by means other than hook and line. Catch limits are set by monthly Fisheries Management Notice. The catch limit for May is 5 tonnes.

An allocation of 400 tonnes for a fishery for smaller vessels (under 15 metre vessels) fishing for Mackerel by means of hooks and line was set down in Policy in 2010. The catch limit for May for the Hook and Line fishery is 10 tonnes.

The Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC) is a formal consultative committee, involving fishing industry representatives - including representatives from the inshore sector. The QMAC meets on a monthly basis to make recommendations to me as Minister, including recommendations on the catch limits for the under 18m Mackerel and Hook and Line Mackerel fisheries.