Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1433. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the Brown Crab Working Group will resume with definite quarterly meetings. [58707/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Brown Crab Working Group was established last year, with a specific, time-bound purpose to review the management of brown crab fishing in Ireland and to identify measures to support the sustainability of brown crab stocks. Brown crab is a very important stock for Irish fishers and coastal communities, in particular the Irish inshore fleet and a number of purpose-built larger vessels up to 24m in length.

The Working Group consisted of industry representatives from the seafood Producer Organisations, the National and Regional Inshore Fisheries Forums, and the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association. It was supported by my Department and representatives from the Marine Agencies. Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) chaired the Working Group and provided the secretariat.

The Working Group met in Athlone over two multi-day workshops in September and October 2024, with time between sessions to allow the industry participants the time to consult with their members. At the second session, Working Group members agreed a set of recommendations to help support the sustainable management of Irish brown crab stocks.

BIM (as Chair) finalised these recommendations into a report that it submitted to my Department on behalf of the Working Group: . The Working Group’s Terms of Reference expired at that stage.

In August, I formally accepted the recommendations made by the Working Group, including the aforementioned recommendation to establish a longer-term consultative mechanism for the management of brown crab stocks. My Department will prioritise the establishment of the consultative mechanism and to take the steps necessary to progress the management measures recommended by the Working Group. Draft Terms of Reference for a new consultative committee will issue very shortly to industry representatives for their comments and input.

As the initial Working Group has concluded its work, I would like to thank the industry representatives for their engagement and commitment to this process, which was very welcome, and I look forward to the establishment of the new Committee by year-end.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1434. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will engage with an organisation (details supplied) and the inshore fishing sector to examine the introduction of a financial assistance scheme or basic income scheme similar to that available to farmers and artists, considering the financial challenges they face and their immense importance to the cultural heritage and the economy of our coastal communities. [58708/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I have met with the National Inshore Fishermen's Association and other representatives of the inshore sector and I am very aware of the challenges facing the inshore fisheries sector.

The income supports for farmers that the Deputy refers to are provided within the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and specifically on the basis of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 which sets out the rules for support under the CAP Strategic plans.

There is no similar or comparable provision in place in relation to primary producers in the seafood sector.

The primary source of funding for the Irish commercial seafood sector is the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) (2021-2027), one of a number of European cohesion funds. The EMFAF Regulation is aligned with the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), and the EMFAF Regulation does not make provision for the provision of income supports to primary producers in the seafood sector.

As regards the Basic Income for the Arts Scheme, the EU state aid basis for this scheme is the General de minimis Regulation (1407/2013). This regulation may not be used as the basis for aid to primary producers in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, with a specific Fisheries de minimis Regulation applying to these producers (717/2014).

There is little scope to implement funding supports of the type being sought by inshore fishers under existing EU state aid Regulations in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

Financial supports are available to the inshore fleet through schemes administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) on behalf of the Department. Further details of these schemes are available online at

Income supports are available to fishers, provided by the Department of Social Protection, with a specific category of Jobseeker's Allowance for fishers, known as Fish Assist. Further details are available here: Any inshore fisher who requires such financial assistance is advised to contact their local INTREO centre. Details of INTREO centres are available here: .