Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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244. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to report on the integrity of the scientific advice behind the closure of pollack fishery; and whether his Department has conducted a review into the impact of the closure decision on island and inshore fishing communities. [38491/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the advice on fish stocks, including Pollack, published by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) forms the basis of the scientific advice used by the European Commission in proposing Total Allowable Catches (TACs). The ICES advice for Pollack in ICES Areas 6-7 (the waters around Ireland) for 2024 was for zero catch.

Following the conclusion of the EU-UK negotiations on 2024 fishing opportunities for shared stocks, the parties agreed on a limited, by-catch only TAC for Pollack in Areas 6-7 to avoid a "choke" situation which would lead to the premature closure of whitefish fisheries where Pollack is caught as a by-catch. Given the scientific advice for this stock, the need to balance socio-economic considerations with achieving good biological status for stocks, and taking into account the challenges of managing mixed fisheries, setting a by-catch only TAC is the most appropriate approach.

As the ICES advice for Pollack in ICES Areas 6-7 for 2025 is again for zero catch, I will be seeking that a similar approach be taken in the EU-UK negotiations on 2025 fishing opportunities.

Ireland is actively involved with the scientific research to improve the understanding of Pollack. The Marine Institute is taking a leading role in the next ICES benchmark process for this stock, which will be completed in the spring of 2025. An alternative assessment model, one which uses additional sources of data, will be evaluated as part of this process.

While the preliminary results indicate that this extra information does not change the perception of the stock, the new model will give a more precise estimate of the state of the stock and improve short-term forecasts that determine when the target fishery could re-open.

In addition, the Marine Institute is actively working with scientists from the UK and France on a number of fronts, including genetic analysis of Pollack stock structure and analysing historic data from commercial fisheries, recreational fisheries and scientific surveys.

All vessels under 55 feet in length, including those in inshore and island fishing communities, receive the same catch limit for whitefish. For the month of October, all vessels, regardless of size, have access to an open fishery for Spurdog. Pelagic stocks of mackerel and herring also have allocations made available, in accordance with Ministerial National policy, supporting smaller vessels, including those in inshore and island fishing communities. The Department will continue to work with the island and inshore fisheries communities to manage the impacts of the Pollack restrictions.