#fishing – The Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney T.D. will attend the EU Fisheries Council in Brussels tomorrow. At the negotiations, from the 18th to 20th December, quotas for the Irish fleet for 2013 and others issues of importance to the Irish Seafood industry will be determined.

This year's negotiations will be severely impacted by breakdowns of the annual fisheries talks for 2013 between the EU & Norway and between the EU, Norway, Faroes, and Iceland. Those breakdowns affect the ability to agree at Council, quotas for Mackerel, Blue Whiting, and Atlanto Scandic Herring for 2013 and affect where Irish Vessels and Norwegian vessels can fish from the 1st of January. In addition, Ireland is facing severe double digit cuts in almost 30 different fish stocks, which are vital to the Irish Fishing industry. The Council agenda will encompass a number of areas where agreement and consensus may be difficult to achieve, posing a particular challenge for the settlement of fishing arrangements for fishermen for the 1st of January.

Priority issues for Ireland will be:

Outcome of TAC (Total Allowable Catch) and Quota negotiations. The Minister will be seeking to deliver TACs that respect scientific advice, reduce the unacceptable practice of discarding fish at sea and are set on a rational basis. Minister Coveney said "The Commission Proposal could result in a net reduction in quotas for the Irish whitefish and prawn fishing industry of 21% by volume. In financial terms, this would amount to a direct income reduction, for the primary producers, the fishermen, of €16.9 million and the full cost(direct and indirect) when the effects on fish factories and others are factored in are in the order of €53 million with estimated significant negative impacts for between 450 - 550 full and part time jobs. I have considered the scientific advice and I am not convinced that the proposed level of cuts is justified. The Commission proposals have been fully evaluated in Ireland and where the level of cuts are not justified I will be making a strong case for a more reasonable approach, taking account of the serious potential effect on jobs and incomes at this time".

Minister Coveney added that "For some stocks such as the very important prawn stock, rather than the 12% cut proposed by the Commission I consider that an increase is justified. However, it will be difficult to reverse the Commission proposal. Similarly, I do not agree that the proposed 55% cut in the Haddock Quota in the Celtic Sea is justified and will I believe lead to increased discarding of fish at sea. I will be working to get a better outcome on this. I also believe that the proposed 32% cut in Hake, the 20% cut in Monkfish, the 48% cut in Haddock in the North West and the 40% cut in Megrim in the North West are too severe and not justified. In total, I am facing high double digit cuts in almost 30 different fish stocks important to Ireland and I will, over the next few days and nights have to negotiate these case by case, taking account of the scientific advice. "

Breakdown of Fisheries external fisheries negotiations: The failure of recent annual talks between the EU and Norway means that access for EU Vessels to EU waters and EU vessels to Norwegian waters will be closed from 1 January next. We will have to negotiate provisional partial quotas for the EU fleet at the Council to a range of important stocks covered by these talks. The withdrawal of access due to the breakdown will also affect the ability of Norwegian vessels to fish Blue Whiting off the North West and this will affect landings into our pelagic fish factories. Minister Coveney said "These are very worrying times for fishing fleet dependant on mackerel, herring and blue whiting. The breakdown of the EU/ Norway negotiations has compounded the breakdown of the Coastal States negotiations on mackerel, blue whiting and Norwegian herring. We are facing difficult discussions over the early part of the Irish Presidency to have agreements put in place, where possible. It is clear that Iceland and the Faroe Islands are not prepared to come to the table with reasonable demands for mackerel again this year. Without international agreement on the management of this stock, our industry is facing a bleak future because the persistent irresponsible fishing of the stock by Iceland and the Faroes will result in the depletion of the stock and substantially reduced fishing opportunities for all. We will be feeling the first results of this next year."

Speaking in advance of the Council Minister Coveney stated "This will be one of the most difficult Fisheries Council's in years. I do not in any way underestimate the considerable challenge posed by the range of issues before us at the Fisheries Council this year. It is essential to the future sustainability of our domestic fishing industry that we obtain a fair and positive outcome to these discussions from Ireland's perspective. This is particularly important given Ireland's imminent presidency of the EU and our strong desire to advance the wider Common Fisheries Policy reform agenda during that time. It is essential therefore that the industry and other stakeholders are fully aware of the huge challenges faced at this Council and of the range of difficulties faced in getting a satisfactory outcome for Ireland in the coming days."

Note: The Minister recently presented a detailed Sustainability Impact Assessment of the EU Commission proposals for TACs and quotas for 2013 to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine on 6th December. For details see

#FishFarm - The National Inland Fisheries Forum (NIFF) has criticised as "flawed" the consent process regarding the proposed deep-sea fish farm in Galway Bay which has stirred much controversy in recent weeks.

In a letter to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as part of the public consultation process, NIFF chair Derek Davis writes that the forum "considers the consent process to be flawed" as a result of "the decision making function being exercised by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food" in a number of circumstances, including where:

• the applicant - Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) - "has several appointees of the said minister at board level";
• the State fisheries board "receives funding and policy directions from the minister's department";
• public announcements made on the proposals and related concerns "indicate pre-judging of the issues";
• any appeal following the minister's decision "would be dealt with by appointees of the minister"; and where
• the "specific statutory basis" on which BIM authorises aquaculture operations "has not been adequately set out".

The letter reiterates Inland Fisheries Ireland's (IFI) criticisms of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) carried out on the proposed location of the 15,000-tonne organic salmon farm off the Aran Islands, stating the NIFF's believe that the document "is deficient in a number of areas" such as not adequately addressing wild salmon migration routes, and making presumptions on the potential impact of sea lice and escaped farmed salmon on adjacent fisheries.

The forum also has concerns regarding the public consultation itself, noting that requests for "specific scientific information used to underpin statements in the EIS" have not been followed through.

"The forum believes that on the basis of the information supplied, the minister is not in a position to make a positive decision on this application," writes Davis. "To do so would represent a failure to adhere to the precautionary principle" which applies "where there is uncertainty as to the existence or extent of risks".

The letter in full is available as a PDF to download HERE.

#Rescue - The most recent episode of Ireland's Search and Rescue features a combined mission by Howth RNLI and the Irish Coast Guard to aid a fishing vessel off Howth earlier this year.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the Howth lifeboat crew spent more than 10 hours on 4 February last assisting the 17-metre trawler, with seven crew on board, which was rapidly taking on water.

The coastguard rescue helicopter was also on scene to help the stricken vessel, winching a salvage pump on board to try to stem the water flow amid difficult weather and sea conditions.

The programme is available online via RTÉ Player until 31 December.

The six-part series on RTÉ One has previously featured exclusive footage of the Tit Bonhomme rescue effort at Glandore Harbour in West Cork last January.

Sole survivor of the tragedy, Abdul Mohammed, spoke to presenter Claire Byrne about his struggle to survive the ordeal that claimed the life of his brother Wael and the four other crew.

#Fishing - Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO of the Marine Institute, presented the Minister for the Marine Simon Coveney with The 2012 Stock Book ahead of the EU Fisheries Council negotiations next week, noting an improvement in certain fish stocks with a higher number of stocks sustainably fished in 2012 compared with 2011 - as Tom McSweeney writes about in his column last Friday.

The Stock Book gives an overview of 59 stocks from which Ireland has an EU quota allocation and will be used to inform discussions and decisions on Total Allowable Catches (TACs) fishing quotas for 2013. TACs and quotas will be decided at the December EU Fisheries Council on 18-20 December which will be attended by the minister, who has lately faced criticism over the proposed deep-sea salmon farm in Galway Bay.

Minister Coveney said: "I welcome the comprehensive review carried out by the Marine Institute showing the state of fish stocks that are of importance to Ireland. Of the 59 stocks in which Ireland has a share of the EU TAC, 42% are now fished sustainably compared to 36% in 2011. The state of the resource base in terms of the biomass, the population of mature fish in the stock, has also improved. The number of depleted stocks has declined from 12 to 8.

"It is good to see progress on delivering sustainable fishing. Further efforts are needed both in terms of setting TAC levels and also taking other measures such as reducing catches of juvenile fish and dealing with unacceptable levels of discards.

He added: "Having the latest scientific information at my fingertips is essential at the December council. My approach to the negotiations will be to utilise this science to ensure EU fishing policy secures the long term sustainability of the industry.

"The December Council negotiations must concentrate on achieving a more practical and pragmatic regime for the fishing industry, grounded in the scientific data available in the Stock Book.”  

The Stock Book advice is developed using the latest available research, assessments and advice on the fisheries resource. Irish scientists collaborate with other international scientists at the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES).  

“ICES is a key forum for Ireland where our scientists develop impartial scientific advice that meets best international standards,” said Dr Heffernan.  

The Stock Book is presented annually to Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The information is of vital importance in serving Ireland during the annual TAC negotiations at the various EU Council of Fisheries meetings, but principally at the December council meeting where the quotas for the following year are set.

It is also of interest to a wider audience, including the fishing industry, marine scientists, managers, environmental NGOs, third level institutes, financial institutions and those with an interest in the status and management of marine fisheries resources in the waters around Ireland. 

The Stock Book has been published by the Marine Institute since 1993 and has evolved considerably in that time period.  It continues to evolve in a changing fisheries advisory environment. The Stock Book is available electronically on the Marine Institute’s website HERE.

#fishing – The Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, TD today welcomed the announcement made by the Chinese authorities via the Irish Embassy in Beijing, that commercial exports of Boarfish from Ireland may now be imported to China.

This development follows the visit last April to China of the largest ever Irish agri-food delegation to China which was led by Minister Coveney. Commenting on the announcement, Minister Coveney said "China is a key strategic trade partner for Ireland and has a strong demand for imports of high quality seafood, given the size of its population. Ireland is well placed to be a key supplier of sea food, meats, dairy products and beverages as well as other products and services to China. I am delighted that this announcement on Boarfish imports, which was the subject of specific discussions on my mission last April, is yet another positive development from that trade mission".

Boarfish has become much more abundant off the south coast of Ireland. In recent years, the Irish fishing fleet has developed a very important fishery on this species for the production of fishmeal and fish oils and increasingly for the creation of human consumption seafood products.

A Total Allowable Catch and National Quotas were introduced at EU level for Boarfish for the first time in 2011. Ireland successfully negotiated a very significant new Irish national fish quota, equating to 2/3 of the overall EU total allowable catch (TAC). The quota for Ireland in 2012 was 56, 666 tonnes making this new fishery one of our largest commercial fisheries. To date in 2012, thirty nine large Irish trawlers have caught over 53,000 tonnes of Boarfish. The overall long term sustainability of this species is promising and a new quota for 2013 will be negotiated by Minister Coveney at the upcoming Fisheries Council.

Following Minister Coveney's trade mission to China in April, Ireland has been pursuing a co-ordinated strategy to realise the potential offered by the new Boarfish Fishery. Trial samples of over 70 tonnes were sent to Chinese Seafood companies this year and these have lead to orders for commercial scale exports. BIM and Bord Bia have been working to create new products from this new resource and to find new human consumption markets so as to ensure that the Irish Seafood industry can get the maximum value and employment from the resource. The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority have worked closely with their Chinese counterparts AQSIQ to ensure that all the seafood safety and other trade certification requirements can be met to successfully allow commercial exports of Boarfish.

The Minister concluded "I expect that the opening of the Chinese Market for commercial export of Boarfish products from Ireland will enable our Seafood Processors and Exporters to develop a very significant human consumption market for Irish Boarfish products in China, to the benefit of the whole seafood industry along our western and southern seaboard".

At a hearing today at Southampton Crown Court the owner and manager of a fishing vessel were fined a total of £180,000 including costs. They had pleaded guilty to charges relating to health and safety offences brought under fishing vessel safety legislation

On 7 January 2008 the UK registered fishing vessel Shark sailed from La Corunna in Spain with a crew of 16, mainly Spanish and Portuguese nationals.  On 19 January 2008 the Shark suffered a severe accommodation fire while at sea approximately 17 miles to the west of Malin Head.  The fire on board the Shark was extensive.  It extended to the galley kitchen, and three cabins used by the crew for sleeping, to alleyways in the accommodation section of the boat and the upper parts of the vessel.  In two of the sleeping cabins the bunks, bedding, furnishings and lockers were totally consumed by fire.  The crew were badly affected by smoke.

A major search and rescue operation, involving UK and Irish Coastguard, helicopters, lifeboats and Irish Navy, took place. Fourteen of the crew were evacuated by lifeboat and helicopter from the vessel. The fire was extinguished by members of the Irish Navy. The Shark eventually made it to Killybegs, Republic of Ireland.

After arrival the vessel was inspected by surveyors from the MCA. Several major defects were noted, many of which were noted to have pre-dated the fire and affected the safe operation of the vessel.  An investigation by the Enforcement Unit of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency was started into the operation of the Shark by its owner, Generic Enterprises Ltd, and managers, Hooktone Ltd.

At an earlier hearing in Magistrates Court, the owner of the Shark, Generic Enterprises Ltd had pleaded guilty to a charge brought under the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997 for failing to ensure the health and safety of the crew. However owing to the seriousness of the offence, the matter was passed to Crown Court for sentencing.   At today's hearing, they were fined £100,000 plus costs of £35,000.

Following legal argument, the vessel's managers, Hooktone Ltd., changed their plea to guilty for a breach of the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997 for failing to ensure the health and safety of the crew.  They were fined £20,000 plus costs of £25,000.

His Honour Judge Ralls QC stated that Generic Enterprises Ltd had a high responsibility for the safety of the crew and vessel and that their duty had fallen well below standard.  He also pointed out that Generic Enterprises Ltd had adopted a cavalier attitude to safety. When passing sentence He added that Hooktone Ltd culpability for the offence was at a lower level.

#fishing – The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, presented to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine today a Sustainability Impact Assessment of the EU Commission proposals for Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas for 2013.

The TACs and quotas will be decided at the December EU Fisheries Council on 18 to 20th December. The Sea Fisheries Sustainability Impact Assessment has been carried out in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government and is now publicly available on www.fishingnet.ie . The Sustainability Impact Statement, which has been prepared by the Department working with the Marine Institute and BIM, reviews all the stocks of importance to Ireland taking account of the scientific advice on the stocks. The Impact Assessment acknowledges that while many stocks in which the Irish fleet have an interest are not in a healthy biological state, there has been an improvement in 2012 on the state of fish stocks.

Minister Coveney said "I welcome the comprehensive review of the state of fish stocks of importance to Ireland which has been carried out by the Marine Institute. Of the 59 stocks in which Ireland has a share of the EU TAC, 42% are now fished sustainably compared to 36% in 2011. The state of the resource base in terms of the biomass, the population of mature fish in the stock, has also improved. The number of depleted stocks has declined from 12 to 8. It is good to see progress on delivering sustainable fishing. Further efforts are needed both in terms of setting TAC levels and also taking other measures such as reducing catches of juvenile fish and dealing with unacceptable levels of discards. These issues will be a priority for me during the Irish Presidency work programme on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy in the first half of 2013".

The statement also sets down the economic importance of stocks and the likely impacts of the Commission's proposals from a socio-economic perspective. Minister Coveney said "It is very clear from the analysis undertaken by BIM that the current proposals would have significant consequences on our fishing industry and our dependant coastal communities. Potentially there is a loss of approximately €15.5m for our whitefish and prawn fishing industry as well as knock on effects for processors and hauliers etc. This equates to losses in the order of €53m for coastal communities where the direct cost and indirect costs (processing, net making etc) are taken into account".

Minister Coveney added "We must continue to ensure that the state of fish stocks is not compromised and the scientific advice provided informs decisions on TACs and quotas for 2013. I will work in close consultation with the fishing industry and other stakeholders during the December Fisheries Council to deliver quotas for Ireland that involve reductions only where justified and that a rational and prudent account is taken of the available scientific information to inform the Council's decisions".

#RNLI - Donaghadee RNLI has assisted two people whose boat got into difficulty off Co Down.

The station’s volunteer lifeboat crew was out on a training exercise on Sunday morning when they were requested to go to the aid of a 30-ft fishing vessel off the Copeland Islands.



Two people were on board the vessel which was drifting off South Briggs.
 Within minutes the lifeboat was on the scene and found the vessel had a rope around its propeller.



The lifeboat crew was able to establish a tow rope across to the vessel and towed it safely into Groomsport Harbour.

#FISHFARM - Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) is set to hold a public tender process for the development of the proposed deep sea fish farm in Galway Bay, according to The Irish Times.

Financiers around the world have expressed interest in the 500-hectare organic salmon farm to be located off Inis Oirr in the Aran Islands, though BIM said it was not at liberty to disclose who they are.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the proposed fish farm would be the largest of its kind in Europe, set to double the State's production of organic salmon.

BIM says it is already receiving inquiries for jobs from emigrants wishing to return home.

However the scheme has faced opposition from Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and local anglers, who cite the potential threat to wild salmon numbers in the area.

IFI recently issued a statement regarding its submission on the project's Environmental Impact Statement, raising concerns about the scale of the development and the impact of sea lice - infestations of which are often concentrated by aquaculture.

The public consultation that began in mid-October is scheduled to conclude next Wednesday 12 December.

#RNLI - Lough Swilly RNLI rescued five people onboard a 50ft fishing boat yesterday evening (Sunday 2 December) after the vessel’s engine broke down in Co Donegal.

During what was a nine-hour callout in tough weather conditions, Portrush RNLI also launched to assist the stricken Mary Ellen.



Volunteer crew members from Lough Swilly had been attending a commemoration in Portsalon when they were requested to launch to the boat that had broken down some 10 miles further on, a mile-and-a -half from Fannad Lighthouse.



The all-weather Tyne class lifeboat arrived on scene at 3.15pm where the crew observed a steel crabber with five men onboard. The fishing boat was carrying a load of crab.



Weather conditions at the time were described as blowing gusts of between gale force 5 and 6 up the lough.



The crew pursued to establish a towline and commence the return journey to shore. After towing the vessel for a couple of hours into the dark, the tide began to turn, making the pull more difficult. A relief lifeboat from Lough Swilly and Portrush RNLI were requested to launch to assist.



Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 118 was also on scene in the event that the stricken vessel’s crew would need to be evacuated.



As the boat was being towed up the lough it lost all power and VHF was transferred from the lifeboat for communication.



When Portrush RNLI arrived on scene, the crew assisted with the tow while the Lough Swilly relief lifeboat stood by.



The stricken vessel’s mechanic managed to restart the engine during the tow and the vessel made its way into Rathmullan while the Lough Swilly lifeboat stood by in case it required further assistance.



John McCarter, Lough Swilly RNLI lifeboat operations manager, paid tribute to the lifeboat crew who arrived back at the station in the early hours of Monday morning.

"This was a long callout in difficult weather conditions and we are glad that we were able to assist this vessel and her crew in making it to shore safely,: he said. 

"This was a testament of the commitment, skill and selfless nature of our volunteers who are always willing to give their time and readily leave the comfort of their homes to face challenging conditions to help people who find themselves in difficulty at sea."

Joe Joyce from the lifeboat crew told BBC News that the nine-hour operation was "an unpleasant experience" but reported that "everybody was safe and well".