Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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984. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what actions he and his Department have and will take to support wild shellfish fishermen in loughs around Ireland to continue fishing given that new Brexit related regulations now have them in legal limbo due to having no physical site/processing facility for veterinarians to visit and issue health certificates for molluscs transiting the British Landbridge; what engagements he has had with other Irish seafood agencies to address this loophole; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14536/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The UK Government introduced from 31 January 2024 new import control requirements for exports of EU agrifood and fishery products to GB and via GB landbridge including requirement for export health certification. The new UK requirements arise as a result of Brexit and UK decision to leave EU Single Market and Customs Union.

In respect of aquaculture animals (shellfish) exports via GB landbridge under the new UK requirements, these products require GB export health certification. My Department and relevant state agencies have engaged extensively with agrifood and fishery sector on these new requirements and are supporting provision export health certification for a wide range of exporters who meet all of the UK certification requirements.

The UK Government has not supplied a GB export health certification for wild aquatic animals (shellfish) therefore the Irish competent authorities cannot support the provision of certification.

In terms of access to EU markets for Irish shellfish it is important to note that transport of these products is still possible via the direct routes to Europe if GB landbridge route is not available.

My Department and relevant Government Agencies continue to monitor impacts of these new UK requirements and they continue to be discussed with industry stakeholders. These issues which arise as a result of changes introduced by UK Government are complex and challenging. The specific certification issues for wild aquatic animals (shellfish) have also been discussed with relevant Irish seafood agencies and I am continuing to examine these issues.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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985. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the latest work of the Brown Crab Working Group that he established in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14537/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I can inform the Deputy that preparations are ongoing in respect of the establishment of the Brown Crab Working Group. The Group’s work shall be facilitated by Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Ireland's seafood development agency, and it will seek to identify measures that could be introduced to support the sustainability of brown crab stocks. I expect that recommendations will be made to me in due course on proposed management measures in respect of the Irish brown crab fishery.

I can assure the Deputy that I am cognisant of the status of brown crab stocks around our coastline and their recent decline. I am also advised that this issue is not confined to the Irish brown crab fishery, as other countries are also reporting decreased crab stock levels.

There are a number of management measures in place for brown crab. The landing size is a national measure where a minimum conservation reference of 140mm applies to brown crab taken by Irish sea-fishing boats in ICES Areas VI and VII, as set out in S.I. No. 26 of 2019 - Brown Crab (Conservation of Stocks) Regulations 2019. While not limited by quota arrangements, EU legislation (Regulation (EU) 2019/1241) restricts the volume of brown crab claws that can be landed for conservation reasons. Crab is also subject to fishing effort limits (days at sea) set at EU level (Council Regulation (EC) No. 1415/2004) for Member States, including Ireland, with sea-fishing boats that catch brown crab, spider crab, scallops and demersal fish stocks in waters around Ireland (ICES areas V, VI and VII).

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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986. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide the latest update on the total amount of monies drawn down and spent in the Irish fishing industry from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund; to advise how much money he expects to return to the EU unspent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14538/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I established the Seafood Task Force to examine the impacts of the TCA on our fishing sector and coastal communities and to recommend mitigation measures.

On foot of the recommendations of the Task Force, I secured funding for a total of 16 schemes for the seafood sector which were allocated a budget of €307.96 million, funded under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve. These schemes provided support for development and restructuring to ensure Ireland has a seafood sector that is as profitable and sustainable as it possibly can be and to identify new opportunities for jobs and economic activity in coastal communities.

The table below provides details of fisheries-related BAR support schemes administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), their budgets and amounts paid. Additional funding of €55.3 million was made available by my Department for the Brexit Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme, which supported investment in local authority maintained piers and harbours, and funding of €1 million was also made available to Bord Bia for Inshore Marketing schemes.

The Department of Public Expenditure, National Plan Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) has overall responsibility for oversight of BAR funding, and will be preparing and submitting Ireland's claim to the European Commission for the draw down of funding under BAR. My Department is providing the necessary support to DPENDR in relation to the preparation of Ireland’s BAR claim, which must be submitted in September 2024. Questions in relation to the process for drawing down BAR funding should be addressed to my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Plan Delivery and Reform.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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987. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to advise how much of the 1,874 tonne quota of spurdog that he announced in December 2022 was caught, landed and processed; to confirm what markets were identified for selling this species into; to confirm what processing facilities are available for spurdog landings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14539/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's quota for Spurdog in 2023 was 1,871 tonnes, of which 420 tonnes was caught (approximately 22%).

The Spurdog stock was subject to high harvest rates for more than four decades, and fisheries were not managed during this time. The Spurdog fishery was re-opened in 2023, having been closed for over ten years to rebuild the stock.

In the past, the main market for Irish spurdog was the UK - almost all Irish landings of Spurdog were sent to the UK, where they were taken by primarily one processor. This market, and the associated processing capacity, has essentially lapsed.

BIM and Bord Bia have carried out an initial market investigation and, while this showed that there is now only a very limited market for this species, there are some opportunities on mainland Europe (Germany, France and Spain). The Irish processing sector has expressed an interest to BIM to explore what is needed in terms of processing techniques, capacity and product formats to service this market. BIM will work with processors in the coming months to explore this opportunity.