Update: Common Fisheries Policy Review – Agriculture 23rd September, 2014

Parliamentary Question No. 265    
   
 
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which the Common Fisheries Policy review has positively affected the fishing industry here and throughout Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– Bernard J. Durkan.
 
 
For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 23rd September, 2014.
 
Ref No: 35776/14
 
 
REPLY
 
The Minister for Agriculture, Food     and the Marine : (Simon Coveney)

From the outset of the Common Fisheries Policy revision process, Ireland’s overarching goal was to ensure a sustainable, profitable and self reliant industry that protects and enhances the social and economic fabric of rural coastal communities dependent on the seafood sector, while balancing these objectives with the need to safeguard fish stocks for future generations. I strongly believe that the new CFP will achieve that goal both here at home and throughout Europe.
The new CFP will bring real meaningful reform to how EU waters are fished in the future. The agreement is designed to ensure the long term sustainability of fishing in Ireland and throughout EU waters, utilising best scientific advice as a key determinant in setting annual fishing quotas in the future. A key element of the new CFP is the setting of fishing levels on the basis of MSY (Maximum Sustainable Yield). This should lead to healthy fish stocks, higher quotas for both Irish and EU fishermen and lead to more sustainable fishing patterns. The Commission proposals for TACs and quotas for 2015, expected to be published in late October / early November, will take account of delivering MSY for 2015 where possible and on a progressive, incremental basis at the latest by 2020 for all stocks.
 
The new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) provides the framework for the long term sustainability of fish stocks around our shores, the continued economic viability of our fishing fleet and fish processing while supporting the communities that depend on a vibrant fishing industry. The package agreed will support the rebuilding of fish stocks in European waters and will allow for setting TACs and quotas to reflect catches when a landing obligation is introduced on the basis that for the first and subsequent years, discarding of that stock no longer be allowed. In the longer term as fish stocks reach and are maintained at healthy levels, it will support increased fishing opportunities for all European fishermen.
 
New opportunities for the direct involvement of the fishing industry are also a central part of the new CFP Reform which, for the first time, introduces a regionalised approach to fisheries management.   We have moved away from the old system of an EU decision making approach centralised in Brussels. The new policy puts fishermen at the core of developing conservation measures for fisheries in which they are involved and also makes specific references to taking account of the needs of our fishermen. The new reform provides for a regional approach to decision making. Ireland works with fellow Member States involving UK, France, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands on developing appropriate measures for fisheries in the North Western Waters. This group works closely with the North Western Waters Advisory Council and the Pelagic Advisory Council. A discards plan for pelagic stocks in North Western Waters is being finalised as the landing obligation applies to these stocks from 1 January 2015. Work on a plan for whitefish stocks has commenced to provide for the landing obligation which commences on 1 January 2016. This work is being carried out in consultation with the Advisory Council.
It is expected that over time this landing obligation will lead to a healthy fish stock thus resulting in increased fishing opportunities for the fishing industry here at home and throughout Europe.