Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

46. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Question No. 89 of 25 April 2024, the status of plans for the introduction of measures to protect the sprat fishery, which is concentrated within the six nautical mile zone; to provide a status update on the review of trawling activity inside the six nautical mile zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25539/24]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am returning to the issue of sprat. I ask the Minister for an update on the status of plans for the introduction of measures to protect the sprat fishery, which is concentrated within the six nautical mile zone, and to provide a status update on the review of trawling activity inside the six nautical mile zone.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In December 2018, a transition period to a ban on vessels over 18 m trawling in inshore waters inside the six nautical mile zone was announced. A significant part of the objective of this measure was to manage the fishing effort on sprat stocks, which are primarily targeted in inshore waters. However, this measure was the subject of extended legal proceedings, the outcome of which, received last year, is that the ban has been overturned, as we discussed previously.

As I set out in my response to Question No. 89 of 25 April 2024, I have held a new public consultation on a review of trawling activity inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines. The consultation took place over a period of eight weeks and closed on Friday, 12 April. This consultation took place without prejudice, needless to say. The purpose of the consultation was to invite stakeholders and interested parties to advise me of their views on any changes to policy within the scope of this review. A large volume of submissions - in excess of 5,000 - was received. These submissions will be used to inform my review of trawling activity inside the six nautical mile zone and baselines. My Department has commenced the analysis of the submissions. All relevant issues must be carefully considered before a decision can be made. I want whatever decision I make to stand up to all scrutiny and to make sure the decision stands the test of time and has impact.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I certainly understand the background to this and I am on record as saying the policy was very good and the intent was great. Unfortunately, we have been through what we have been through, and the Minister mentioned 2018. Of course, it is important to say that sprat is not subject to a quota. As a forage fish, it is a vital source of food for other fish and mammals and it is vital for the marine ecosystem. Yet, here we are. The policy has been gone since 2018 and it is now 2024. I welcome that the Minister held another consultation process and I welcome that there has been so much interest, with 5,000 submissions. Indeed, I attended a public meeting in Rossaveal and I know there are mixed views, not in regard to the policy but in regard to the specifics of how it will operate for smaller boats that might be just a little bit outside the limit. I understand the practical problems on the ground but what is urgent is to get a date. When will the new policy be in place? Will there be a lead-in period for the bigger boats to get out? What is the Minister's intention on this occasion?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I will not prejudice what I do by indicating what the outcome will be at this point. We have received 5,000 submissions and it is important they are fully considered as part of the process and that I fully consider those. It closed in mid-April, about six weeks ago. Five thousand submissions is a lot to work through and they all deserve to be fully considered and taken into account. My team are working through all of that at the moment and we will work through them as promptly as we can. I want to conclude this as promptly as I can. I have been frustrated by the fact it was overturned, which is a decision of the court. The decision taken back in 2018 means we do not have any policy in place at the moment in regard to the six mile zone or we have not been able to get to the stage where we can conclude it again. It will continue apace and my team are prioritising it. In terms of a timeline, I cannot give one at the moment but it is hoped in the next period of time that we will get more of a line of sight as to the level of work that has been done and when the outcome could be. I certainly want to see it done in the most timely fashion possible.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Minister. It is very important to give a timeline. The policy was good. The courts did not strike down the policy; in fact, they made it clear that they had no input at all into the policy. As far as they could see, it was a good, sustainable policy and the Government was entitled to do that. What happened was that eventually the Court of Appeal, and earlier the High Court on different grounds in terms of the consultation, found that the Department failed to notify Europe and failed to notify England. They are the two specific reasons why it fell but the actual substance of it did not fall. Here we are in 2024, and unsustainable quantities of sprat are being taken out of the water. Does the Minister have any idea how much sprat has been taken out in 2023? For example, in 2019 we had 14,353 tonnes. That increased in 2020 to over 15,000 tonnes. In 2021 it was 14,000 tonnes. In 2022 and 2023, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea advised that when you apply the precautionary approach, catches should be no more than 2,240 tonnes in each year. We are way above that. We are either five times above it or, sometimes, ten times above it. We are certainly three or four times above it. What is happening in the meantime to protect the ecosystem? I am over time but I appeal to the Minister to provide a date.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A provisional figure of 3,403 tonnes for sprat landings in 2023 has previously been provided by the SFPA. That is what I have to have hand here. The figures over the years from 2018 to 2022 ranged from a minimum of approximately 3,500 tonnes of sprat landed in 2018, to a maximum of approximately 14,500 tonnes of sprat landed in 2021. Obviously, it is an important species and an important foundation species for the ecology and welfare of many other fish, their health and the sustainability of their stocks. I want to conclude this process in as prompt a fashion as possible. My team is working on it and we will step it out as quickly as we can to get to the end point.