Parliamentary Question No.403
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the amount and the value of the respective species of fish imported into the State in 2006, 2007 and 2008 for domestic consumption; the origin of such fish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – David Stanton.
For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 28th April, 2009. Ref No: 16170/09 Proof: 121
REPLY
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: (Brendan Smith)
The material requested by the Deputy will be forwarded to him directly.
Parliamentary Question No.637
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if research has been carried out into restrictions on inshore fishing of seabass; if he has plans to amend such restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – David Stanton.
For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 22nd April, 2009. Ref No: 15734/09
REPLY
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: (Brendan Smith)
The current regime on sea bass management in Ireland, based on consistent scientific advice, provides for a complete ban on commercial landings of sea bass and a daily bag limit for anglers of 2 fish. This has been in place since the early 1990’s.
At the request of the Federation of Irish Fishermen, I am currently reviewing these measures in consultation with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources who has responsibility for inland fisheries.
Parliamentary Question No.118
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the action he will take regarding short term financial support to fishermen in advance of the next Council of Ministers meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – David Stanton.
For ORAL answer on Tuesday, 1st July, 2008.
Ref No: 25590/08 Lottery: 56 Proof: 115
REPLY
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: (Brendan Smith)
At the Council of Fisheries meeting in Luxembourg last week EU Fisheries Commissioner Borg, undertook to come back to the next Council meeting on the 15th July with definitive proposals to address the issues facing fishermen.
However, I will continue to use every avenue open to me, as will Minister Killeen to convey in the strongest possible terms the depth of feeling of Irish fishermen on the situation facing them at present. We will continue to press for a package of EU-funded measures to address the current difficulties experienced by fishermen across Europe, particularly in Ireland.
I was heartened by the support I received from my fellow Ministers at Council and am also pleased with the progress made in a number of areas of concern to Irish fishermen. I believe the meeting was positive as regards the restructuring of the industry and action to combat illegal fishing. I welcome the agreement reached at Council on a new regulation to combat landings of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fish from within and outside the EU.
Parliamentary Question No. 109
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his views on the practice whereby fishermen are required to dump bycatch which is not covered by a quota; his further views on whether this requirement is unacceptable; his plans to review this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – David Stanton.
For ORAL answer on Tuesday, 1st July, 2008.
Ref No: 25591/08 Lottery: 42 Proof: 106
REPLY
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: (Brendan Smith)
The issue of high levels of discards in commercial sea fisheries is a global problem and is on the agenda of all major international organisations who deal with the development of sustainable sea fisheries and protection of marine ecosystems.
Discarding is usually a feature of mixed fisheries where one species may be the target of fishing activity, but other species may be caught accidentally in the fishing gear. It can also occur for economic reasons, i.e., when smaller, less valuable fish are dumped in favour of larger, more marketable ones (a practice known as high-grading).
The discarding issue is already being addressed at a European level through measures regulating fishing gear, such as adjusting net mesh sizes or requiring acoustic devices to be attached to fishing gear. A new discard policy which aims to stop the practice of discarding is under preparation and a consultation process is currently underway with all the stakeholders. An effective resolution of the discards issue will likely require a combination of new policy and technical measures.
At my meeting on the 18th of June with Commissioner Borg I raised this issue as a priority for me, and for the Federation of Irish Fishermen. While he advised that finding effective solutions is challenging, he restated his commitment to continue to prioritise the current work programme agreed by the Council in June 2007. I will continue to press for progress on this issue at national, EU and international levels and I am confident that, with the co-operation, collaboration and commitment of all the stakeholders, significant improvements can be achieved in this most sensitive area for the long term sustainability of our industry.
