Seafood Development Operational Programme 2007 - 2013

7/31/2019 Seafood Development Operational Programme 2007 - 2013

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Section 1: Irish Seaood Development Operational Programme 4

Section 2: Geographical Eligibility 5

Section 3: An Analysis o the Fishing Sector in Ireland 6

3(A) GeneralDescriptionotheFishingSectorinIreland 6 3(A).1 AnalysisoNationalCircumstances 6 3(A). AnAnalysisoaNon-Convergenceregion 18 3(A).3 MainLessonsLearnedromtheProgrammingPeriod000-006 18 3(A).4 ContextIndicators

3(B) DrivingForces,ChallengesandOpportunitiesFacingtheIrish SeaoodIndustry 6 3(C) DescriptionoMarineEnvironmentandLabourMarketConditions 30 3(C).1 DescriptionoMarineEnvironment 30 3(C). DescriptionoLabourMarketConditions 49 3(D) MainOutcomesotheAnalysis 50

Section 4: Strategy at Operational Programme Level 54

4.1 Overal lObjectivesotheSeaoodDevelopmentOperationalProgramme usingImpactIndicators 54 4. SpecicObjectives,whichtheOperationalProgrammeaimstoachieve usingResultIndicators 56 4.3 ImplementationTimetableandIntermediaryObjectives 57

Section 5: Summary o the Ex Ante Evaluation 58

Section 6: Programmes Priority Axes 66

6(A) Coherenceandjusticationothepriorityaxeschosen 66 6(A).1 TheNationalStrategicPlan 66 6(A). GuidingPrinciplesotheOperationalProgramme 66 6(A).3 TheOutcomesoExAnteEvaluation 67

Priority Axis 1: Measures or the adaptation o theCommunity Fishing Fleet 68

6(B)1.1 MainObjectivesoPriorityAxis1 68 6(B)1. JusticationorAveragerateoco-nancing, targetgroups/sectors/areasand/orbeneciaries PriorityAxis1 68 6(B)1.3 DescriptionoMeasuresunderPriorityAxis1 70 6(B)1.4 InormationonDemarcationwithOtherActivities 70 6(C)1 SpecicInormationorPriorityAxis1 71

Table of Contents


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TheSeaoodDevelopmentOperationalProgramme007-013 3

Priority Axis 3: Measures o Common Interest 72

6(B)3.1 MainObjectivesoPriorityAxis3 7 6(B)3. JusticationorAveragerateoco-nancing, targetgroups/sectors/areasand/orbeneciaries PriorityAxis3 73 6(B)3.3 DescriptionoMeasuresunderPriorityAxis3 73 6(B)3.4 InormationonDemarcationwithOtherActivities 74

Priority Axis 4: Sustainable development o

Coastal Fisheries Areas 75

6(B)4.1 MainObjectivesoPriorityAxis4 75

6(B)4. JusticationorAveragerateoco-nancing, targetgroups/sectors/areasand/orbeneciaries underPriorityAxis4 76 6(B)4.3 DescriptionoMeasuresunderPriorityAxis4 77 6(B)4.4 InormationonDemarcationwithOtherActivities 78

Section 7: Financial Provisions 80

Section 8: Implementing Provisions 82

8(A) DesignationoentitiesunderArticle58otheEFF 8 8(B) BodiesResponsibleorReceiptoPaymentsandPaymentstoBeneciaries 84 8(C) FinancialManagementandControlArrangements 85 8(D) MonitoringandEvaluationSystem 86 8(E) ComputerisedExchangeoData 87 8(F) SeaoodStrategyReviewandNationalStrategicPlan 88 8(G) InormationandPublicity 89

Appendix 1: List o Persons and Organisations That Made Submissions to the

Seaood Strategy Review Group 92

Appendix 2: Summary o Views Expressed During Consultation 93

Appendix 3: Current and Projected Irish Supplies and Sales o Seaood 95

Appendix 4: Axes, Objectives and Interventions 96

Appendix 5: Map Showing Fishing Areas 102

Map Showing Areas o Aquaculture Production 103

Glossary 104


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4

ThisOperationalProgrammehasbeenpreparedinaccordancewithCouncilRegulation(EC)No1198/006o7July006ontheEuropeanFisheriesFundandCommissionRegulation(EC)No498/007o6March007layingdowndetailedrulesortheimplementationoCouncilRegulation(EC)No1198/006ontheEuropeanFisheriesFund.

1 Irish Seafood Development Operational Programme


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Irelandiseligibleasanon-convergenceregionorthepurposeotheEuropeanFisheriesFund.AdetailedproleothecharacteristicsotheregionwheretheseaoodindustryislocatediscontainedinSection3(A)below.

2 Geographical Eligibility


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6

33(A) General Description o the Fishing

Sector in Ireland

3(A).1 Analysis o National Circumstances

TheIrishseaoodindustryisavitalindigenousindustrywhichmakesasignicantcontributiontothenationaleconomyintermsooutput,employmentandexports.Generatingsome11,000jobsinthecoastalregions,theindustrycontributedcirca70milliontothenational

economyin005.Thisisequivalentto0.45%oIrishGDP1.Geographicallythesheriesindustryispredominantlyconcentratedonthewesternseaboardandtheharbourtownsothesouthandeastcoastlineareas.Themainindustrystakeholdersaretheprimaryproductionsectorsoshcatchingandaquaculture,theprimaryandsecondaryprocessingsectors,themarketingsectorandancillaryindustriessuchasnetmaking,vesselrepair,transport,andanumberootherservices.

Duetotheindustrysconcentrationinthemoreremoteareasothecoastline,itplaysacriticalpartinthesustainabledevelopmentotheeconomicandsocialabricothemanysmallcommunitiesitserves.Theindustrysupportstheeconomicviabilityoruralcommunitiesbymaintainingworkingpopulationsandcommunitiesinthemoreremotecoastalregionstypicallycharacterisedbylow

1Source:CentralBankoIrelandAnnualReport006

populationdensities,highdependencyrates,belowaveragelevelsoeducationalattainmentandhigherthanaveragelevelsodeprivation.

Whileconsumerdemandorseaoodisgrowingstrongly,asillustratedbythegrowthinthesalesvalueoIrishseaoodrom617millionin000to70millionin005thesupplyoseaoodisacingdicultiesmainlyduetothedeclinesinshstocks,reducingquotasandstructuralimbalances

atcatchingandprocessinglevels.Thelong-termsustainabilityanddevelopmentotheIrishseaoodindustrywillrequireamoreintegratedapproachonthepartothevariousstakeholdersalongthevalue-chain,withagreaterocusonderivingmaximumvalueorsh,adoptingmoreresponsibleshing/armingpractices,whilstsaeguardingtheenvironmentandresourcebase.

Employment

Theseaoodindustrysupportstheeconomicviabilityoruralcommunities,generating10,975jobsinthecoastalregionsandmakesanimportantcontributiontothenationaleconomy.Thesejobsareenormouslysignicantastheymaintainworkingpopulationsandcommunitiesinremotecoastalregionsthataregenerallyeconomicallydisadvantaged.

SeeTable3.10inSection3C()oragenderbreakdownoindustryemployment.

Table 3.1 provides details o employment by sector in 2000 and 2006

2000 2006

Full time Part time/Casual

total Full time Part time/Casual

total

Fisheries 4,767 1,433 6,00 3,94 1,063 4,987

Aquaculture 830 ,075 ,905 718 1,18 1,936

Processing ,110 ,097 4,07 ,05 66 ,867

Ancillary 1,500 1,500 1,185 1,185

TOTAL 9,207 5,605 14,812 8,032 2,943 10,975

An Analysis of the Fishing Sector in Ireland


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The Fishing Fleet

AsoNovember007theIrishshingfeetconsistso1,914vesselsregisteredin5segments(polyvalent,beamtrawl,pelagic,specic,andaquaculture).

n ThePolyvalentsectorcomprising1,76vessels,representing90%othevesselsinthefeetand56%ocapacity(GTs).

n TheBeam trawlsegmentcomprising13

dedicatedvesselsor


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3 An Analysis of the Fishing Sector in Ireland [continued]

Ireland: Tonnage o the leet compared to its tonnage ceiling

Evolutionbetween1/1/0031/1/007(SourceDGFish)

Ireland: Power o the leet compared to its power ceiling

Evolutionbetween1/1/0031/1/007(SourceDGFish)


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Fleet Segmentation (GT)


Fleet Segmentation (kW)


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Fleet Segmentation (kW/GT)

Fleet Segmentation (kW)


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Impact o decommissioning on the Irish Fleet

Itwasoriginallyintendedthatby007theIrishwhiteshsectorwouldhavebeenreducedby35%andthatthisreductionwouldbeachievedbythepermanentdecommissioningopolyvalentandbeamtrawlvesselsover18metresinlength.Howeverthe7whiteshvesselsscrappedbetween005and006amounttoonly3,30grosstonnes(or30%otheoriginaltargeto10,937grosstonnes).Itmustalsobebornein

mindthatdecommissioninghasalsoledtosomedisplacementbackintothefeet;anoutcomethathasbeentakenintoaccountintheplanningothisprogrammeand,inparticulartherevisedtargetsset.Theeconomicanalysiscarriedoutin005ortheoriginalreportondecommissioningdemonstratedthatwhiteshstocksgenerally,andavailablequotainparticular,wouldhavetobesome30%greatertoyieldaviableandattractivereturnortheboatsnowinthedemersalsector.

Howeversincethentheeconomicsituationothefeethasdeclinedurther.Thisisdueinnosmallmeasuretotheongoingandsubstantialincreaseinthecostoueloil,aurtherdeclineinthequotasokeydeepwaterstocksandacommitmenttourtherreducequotasatanEUleveltohelpmeetinternationalobligationsincludingthe

JohannesburgAgreementonsustainability.Thuswhiletheapproachadoptedremainsvalid,thevalueosomeothecriticalparametershaschanged.An

updatedanalysis,incorporatingtheseadjustments,nowindicatesthatwhiteshstocksgenerally,andavailablequotainparticular,wouldhavetobesome45%greatertoyieldaviablereturnorthevesselsnowinthewhiteshsector.Onthisbasis,andtakingintoaccountthecurrentcapacityothepolyvalentandbeamtrawlsegmentsothefeetitisappropriatethat,intotal,14,460grosstonnesshouldbedecommissionedowhich3,30grosstonneshasbeenscrappedtodate.Thustherevisedtargetorthisschemeissetat11,140grosstonnes.Othisamountsome8,904grosstoneswillbedecommissionedthroughthisOperationalProgramme.

FollowingStateAidapproval,the008schemetopermanentlywithdrawcapacityromthewhiteshsectorotheIrishshingfeetBuildingaSustainableFutureorIrelandsFishingFleet

waslaunchedinFebruary008.Bytheclosingdate(30April008)atotalo69vesselswithanaggregatecapacityo10,464GTshadappliedordecommissioning.Basedonapplicationsreceiveditisevidentthatdemandordecommissioningwithintheindustryislargelyinlinewiththe

analysiscarriedoutaspartotheschemesintroduction.While(atthetimeowriting)itcannotbedenitivelypredictedhowmanyotheseapplicationswillultimatelymeetallotheschemesentryrequirementsand/orwillpermanentlydecommissionitcanbesaidwithsomecertainty,basedontheapplicationsreceived,thatvesselsparticipatinginthe008decommissioningschemewillhavetheollowingbroadcharacteristics:

Table 3.3 Proile o vessels applying

or decommissioning under the 2008Adjustment o Fishing Eort Scheme

age

AverageAge 31years

leNgth

AverageLength 3.30m

Port oF origiN (Coast)

East SE SW West NW

3% 3% 35% 13% 6%

segmeNt loa %(by gt)

averagegt

% (by

Number)

Polyvalent

LOA4m 38% 0 6%

18m

LOA


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Fleet Capacity (GT)

Status o The Fisheries Resource Production

ThewatersaroundIrelandcontainsomeothemostproductiveshinggroundsintheEUanditisestimatedthatin004thetotalcatchby

allfeetswithintheIrishExclusiveEconomicZonewas700,000tonnesoshvaluedat500million,thegreaterproportionowhichwastakenbynon-Irishvessels.ThisrefectsthePrincipleoRelativeStabilityotheCommonFisheriesPolicy,whereinIrelandsshare(quota)otheEUTotalAllowableCatchisxedoreachothekeycommercialspecies,amountingtosome0%inthecaseopelagicspecies,16%odemersalspeciesand3%oshellsh(Dublinbayprawns/Nephropsandasmall,unused,quotao

snowcrab).Inshoreshellshstocks(crab,lobster,whelk,shrimp,etc.)arenotsubjecttoEUquotaallocation;thesestocksgenerated5%otherst-point-o-salevalueorthesheriessectorin004.

Despitetheconsiderableoverallcatch,IrelandsMarineInstitutereportsthatover75%othesestocksareoutsidesaebiologicallimitswitheitheralowstocksizeorunsustainablelevelsoexploitation.InadditiontheInstitutenotesthat,

misreporting o catch, discarding and poor scientifcsampling data continue to undermine the scientifc advice

and sustainable management o the resourceandthatthe misreporting issue has to be resolved i we are everto achieve sustainable fsheries.

n

TheverypoorstateomanydemersalstocksisrefectedbothintheannualtotalallowablecatchandquotaallocationsthatIrelandreceivesandinthedeclaredlandingsotheshingfeetoverthepastdecade.Fromahighin1997,Irelandsshareothekeydemersalstockshasallenrom55,470tonnesto3,66tonnesin006,aallo41%.Landingsalsohavedeclinedbysome33%overthisperiod,rom48,000tonnesin1997tojust3,331in004.

n Forthekeypelagicspecies(mackerel,horse-mackerel,herring,andbluewhiting)asimilarpatternisalsoevidentandbetween1995and004landingsellby6%(305,000to6,783tonnes).Theuseocombinedguresorpelagicstocks,however,canmasksomeimportanttrendsandwhenlookedatonaspecies-by-speciesbasiswendthatherringlandingsaredown39%,mackerellandingsaredown0%,whilelandingsohorsemackerelhavedeclinedby80%overtheperiod.Onlylowvaluebluewhitingandlandingsoothernon-quotaspeciesshowanysustainedincrease.


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n Incontrasttothedeclineinlandingsodemersalandpelagicstocks,landingsromthemainshellshstocksallincreasedsignicantlyovertheperiodwithacombinedincreaseo48%(18,179tonnesto6,83tonnes)between1995and004.However,currentanalysisothesestocksclearlyindicatesthatthistrendisnotsustainableandeortreductionsonallothemajorshellshstocksareurgentlyrequirediyieldsaretobemaintainedatorclosetomaximumlevels.

Whilevariousreasonscanbepostulatedorthecriticaldeclineinmanystocksinrecentyears,clearlyovershingisamajoractorineverycase.FurthermorethisistruenotjustorthesharedstocksthattheIrishfeetexploits,itisequallythecaseormanystockswhereIrelandisallocatedthebiggestproportionothetotalcatch;orexamplewhiteshintheIrishSea,herringintheCelticSeaandothenorthwestcoasttomentionbutaew.

Demersal Stocks: Whitesh and

Dublin Bay Prawns

ThetrendindemersallandingsorIrishvesselsortheperiod1995-004isillustratedbelow.

Hake, Monk, and Megrim Fisheries

Thehake,monk,andmegrimmixed-stocksheryiscurrentlythemostimportantsheryexploitedbyIrishwhiteshvessels,particularlythoseoperatingothesouthwestandwestcoasts.Irelandsquotaothesestocksis9%otheEUTotalAllowableCatch,andwitharst-point-o-salevalueo18.9millionin004,thecombinedlandingsothese3speciesaccountedor9%othevalueoalldemersallandingsthatyear.While

thehakestockdeclinedthroughoutthe1990sasaresultohighlevelsoshing,thestockisnowconsideredtobeharvestedsustainablyandIrelandsquotahasincreasedby1%since004.Ourquotaomonkshhassimilarlyincreasedby30%between004and006.Howeverthemegrimquotahasdecreasedoverthesameperiodby%.Overall,Irelandscombinedquotaorthisgroupostockshasincreasedby10%since004.AccordingtotheMarineInstitutethequalityo

thescienceormegrimispoormainlyduetopoorqualitylandingsdata.TheMarineInstitutealsonotesthatinternationalmisreportingisaseriousprobleminthemonkshsheryandas aresultthestateothestockisuncertain.ICES,

Irish demersal landings, volume and value rom 1995 to 2004


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initsmostrecentadvice,reportsthatmonksh,likehake,whileharvestedsustainablyinrelationtoprecautionarylimits,iscurrentlyoverexploitedinrelationtoitshighestyield.Consequentlythereiscurrentlynocapacitytoabsorbincreasedeorteitherromthecurrentfeetortoaccommodateadditionalshingpressureromvesselsdisplacedromothersheries.

Dublin Bay Prawns (Nephrops) Fisheries

AnimportanthighvaluesheryorvesselsoperatingintheIrishSea,CelticSeaandArangroundsoGalway,theDublinBayprawn(Nephrops)feetalsotakesasignicantquantityocod,andotherspecies,asaby-catch.Wheretheseby-catchspecies,especiallycod,aredepletedorover-exploited,managementmeasuresdesignedtoprotectthemalsoimpactontheactivitiesotheprawnfeet.

IrelandsquotaorDublinBayPrawnsamountsto1%otheTotalAllowableCatch,andwitharst-point-o-salevalueo13.7millionin004,prawnsaccountedor1%othevalueoalldemersallandings.Ingeneralthestateotheprawnstocksarenotwellknown.Howevertheyhavesustainedhighlevelsoshingeortanddiscardratesormanyyearsandallindicationssuggestthatthestockshaveremainedsubstantiallystable.Thereare,however,particularproblemswiththeAranstockwestoGalway.

Cod, Haddock, Whiting FisheriesThemain,andwelldocumented,issueorthecod,haddockandwhitingstockshasbeenthedramaticdeclineocodinallthemainsheriesaroundIrelandandintheNorthSea.Codwassubjecttoveryhighlevelsoshinginthe1990sandthestocksbothintheIrishSeaandothenorth-westcoast(wheretherewasanimportantsheryinthepast)areconsideredtobeinaseverestateodecline.IntheIrishSea,orexample,thespawningstockisestimatedtohaveallenrom1,000tonnesin1973tolessthan5,000tonnestoday.WhitingstockstooareseverelydepletedintheIrishSeaand

othenorth-westcoast,whiletheyareover-shedintheCelticSea.FurthermorewhiletheexactstatusothehaddockstockintheIrishSeaisunknown,itislikewiseconsideredtobeover-exploited.Allothesetrendsarerefectedinthelandingstatisticsorthethreespeciesandcodlandingsdropped78%between1995and004whileorwhitingandhaddocktheequivalentguresshowdropso57%and39%respectively.OverallIrelandsquotaocod,haddockandwhitingamountsto17%otheTotalAllowableCatch,howeverIrelandisallocated66%and58%otherespectivecodandwhitingquotasintheIrishSeaunderscoringtheirtraditionalimportancetothenationalfeet.Witharstpoint-o-salevalueo1.1millionin004,thecombinedlandingsocod,haddockandwhitingaccountedor18%othevalueoalldemersallandingsthat

year,downrom6%in1995.Theseveredeclineinthestatusothesestocks,bothintheIrishSeaandothenorthwestcoast,hasresultedinsignicantdisplacementotraditionalfeetsromtheseareasandtodaymanyothelargervesselsromthe

GreencastlefeettravelregularlytotheCelticSeatosh.LikewisethetraditionalIrishSeawhiteshfeethasallbutdisappeared.Itiscleartoothatasmorevesselsturntheirattentiontothehake,monkandmegrimsheryintheCelticSeaandtotheDublinBayPrawnsheriesbothintheIrishSeaandothesouth-westcoast,thesealreadyheavilyshedstocksareveryvulnerabletourtherover-exploitation.

Plaice and Sole

AnothersignicantsheryexploitedbyIrish

whiteshvessels,inparticularthebeam-trawlandthenear-water(18-4metre)feets,istheplaiceandsoleshery.Irelandsquotaoplaiceandsoleinhome-watersis36%otheEUtotalallowablecatch,andwitharstpoint-o-salevalueo4.5millionin004,thecombinedlandingsothesespeciesaccountedoronly7%othevalueoalldemersallandingsthatyear.Whilequotasincreasedslightly(+3%)between004and006,theyarecurrently17%lessthantheywerein003andalmost43%downontheequivalentvaluesin1995.

SoleislocallyimportantinboththeIrishSeaandCelticSeasandothesouth-west,whileplaiceis


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predominantlyanIrishSeasherywithsmallerquotasalongthesouthcoastandoDonegal.ThelatestscienticadviceorthesestocksindicatesthatsoleisoverexploitedbothintheIrishSeaandintheCelticSea.Forplaice,onceagaintheadviceisthatthestockisovershedintheCelticSea.IntheIrishSea,however,thestockisharvestedsustainably.ThelatestscienticadviceorthesestocksindicatesthatsoleintheIrishSeaisstablewhileitisovershedintheCelticSea.Forplaicethesituationis

similarwiththeIrishSeastockshedsustainably,butagainovershedintheCelticSea.

Deep Water Stocks

Thissmall,butlocallyveryimportant,mixed-stocksheryincreasedsignicantlybetween001and004.Whilethedeep-watersherycomprisesalargerange(>10)ospecies,landingsbythesmallnumberoIrishvessels(


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Horsemackerel(worth6.3millionin004or11%othevalueopelagiclandings),developedasatargetsheryromthe1980s,isouncertainstatus.

Herring(worth5.millionin004or9%othevalueopelagiclandings)hasseendeclininglandingsoranumberoyearsandstocksarecurrentlyoutsidesaebiologicallimits.

Shellsh Stocks: Crab, Lobster, Scallop and Whelk

In004crabandlobsteraccountedor50%othevolumeand60%othevalueolandedshellsh(excludingDublinBayprawns/Nephropswhichisincludedearlier).Theothermajorshellshstocksarescallop,shrimpandwhelkwhichaccountorthemajorityotheremainderinbothvolumeandvalueterms.Allothesestocksareullyexploitedandgenerallystable,butproductivityisbelowmaximumsustainableyield.Anyurthereortincreasesonthesestockswillresultinreducedcatchratesandcorrespondinglylowerprotability.

Adjustment o Fishing Eort

Theintroductionothedecommissioningprogrammeorolderwhiteshvesselswastherstinaseriesoinitiativesaimedatensuringthelong-termsustainabilityothesector.

However,therewasinsucientuptakeonthisdecommissioningprogrammeandthereoremoreseriousadjustmentwillberequiredintheOperationalProgramme007-013.

AtthetimeoitsinceptiontheFleetDevelopmentMeasure000-006supportedtheintroductiononewvesselsandmodernsecondhandvesselsintotheIrishfeetwiththeaimoreducingtheaverageagerom35years.Thisprovedsuccessuland

theaverageagenowstandsat5years.Similarlyundingwasavailabletomodernisevesselswithinthefeet:thishowever,inthesamewayasthereplacementooldervesselswithmodern,moreecientvessels,hadtheeectoincreasingtheeectiveshingeortothefeetandwasdiscontinuedundertheCFPreviewin00.

Overthepasteightyearstherenewalprogrammehasbroughtaboutimprovementinsaetyandoperationalstandardsothecurrentfeetwhiledecommissioninghasremovedsomelarger,oldervessels.Thecompletionothetwin-trackapproachorenewalandrestructuringisvitaltotheuturesuccessothecatchingsectorasitwilldeliverasmallerfeetthatismodern,ecientandsae.

Irish Shellish Landings, Volume and Value rom 1995 to 2004


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The Aquaculture Sector

AquacultureactivitiesarelocatedrightaroundthecoastwithparticularconcentrationinDonegal,Connemara,WestCork,Waterord,WexordandCarlingordLough.Thesectorincludesthearmingonshspeciessuchassalmonandtrout,arcticcharandperchandshellshspeciessuchasmusselsandoystersandtoalesserextentclams,scallops,abaloneandseaurchins.

Thereare13operationsproducingsalmonandsixproducingreshwaterandsea-rearedtroutaswellasthreepercharmingoperations.Thereareabout80musselarmswithsitesinthesouthwestandwesterncoastalareasaswellasasubstantialbottom-musselshery.Thisprovidesrawmaterialor5mussel-processingplants,whichproducearangeovalue-addedproducts.Thereare150operationsproducingPacicoystersconcentratedmainlyinWexord,Waterord,Cork,MayoandDonegalbutalsoatotherlocationsaround

thecoast.Thenumberengagedinaquacultureproductionwas1,936in006.

The Seaood Market and Processing Sector

ThevalueoIrishseaoodsalesamountedto70millionin005.SalesoseaoodontheIrishmarketamountedto311million(137millionintoretailand174mill ionintooodservice);exportswerevaluedat354million,withaurther55.1millionearnedthroughdirectlandingsoshbyIrishvesselsatoreignports.Theprocessingsector

isconcentratedinthecoastalregionsoDonegal,Galway,Cork,Kerryandthesoutheast.There

are198rms,mainlySMEs,engagedinhandling/distr ibutionandprocessingosh,owhichjusttencompanieshavemorethan50peopleemployedull-time,whileasignicantnumberosmalloperatorssupplyalocalmarketorselltonichemarketoutlets.

Table3.4providesabreakdownotheprocessingsectorbyturnover,illustratingthelackoeconomies-o-scalewithintheindustry.Lessthan10%oallcompaniesoperatewithannual

turnoversinexcesso

10million,withthetop50companiesaccountingor80%ooverallturnoverinthesector.

Export Markets

Between000and006thevalueoseaoodexportsincreasedrom331millionin000to355.5millionin006.Approximately85%oseaoodexportsaredirectedtoEUmarketswiththebalancegoingmainlytoFarEasternandAricanmarkets.Themainmarketdestinationshaveremainedlargely

unchangedovertheyearswithFrancebeingthepremiermarketaccountingor4%oexportswithavalueo85.8millionin006.ThiswasollowedbyGreatBritainatavalueo67.7million,Spain,61million,Germany8.million,Italy.9millionandTheNetherlandsat15.million.

Imports

Between000and006seaoodimportsorhumanconsumptionincreasedinvolumeandvalueby56%and53%respectivelytoreach37,855tonnesand

143million.ThemainsupplymarketcontinuestobeGreatBritain.

Table 3.4 Breakdown o the Seaood Processing Companies by Turnover

aNNual turNover (millioN ) No. oF ComPaNies bulk seaFood Fresh/live seaFood PrePared seaFood

0 8 1 1 6

Total 198 16 111 71


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3(A).2 An Analysis o a Non-Convergence region

Irelandisanon-convergenceregionorthepurposeotheEuropeanFisheriesFund.

Theseaoodindustrycomprisingtheshing,sharmingandprocessing/marketingsectorsispredominantlylocatedinthecoastalregionsstretchingromDonegalinthenorth-west,inCountiesMayoandGalwayinthewest,alongthecountiesothesouthwestandsoutherncoastsand

ontheeastinWexord,DublinandLouth.Thesecoastallocationsaremostlyatadistancerommainurbanareasandcentresourbanactivity.Theyarethereorehighlydependantontheincomeandeconomicactivitygeneratedromtheseaoodindustrywhichiscruciallysignicanttosustainingthelivelihoodsothecommunitieslivingintheseremoteregions.Theindustryplaysacriticalpartinthesustainabledevelopmentotheeconomicandsocialabricothecommunitiesitserves.

Thewidedispersalotheseaoodindustryactivityaroundthe7,500kmsotheIrishcoastlineisillustratedonthemapsoshingandaquacultureactivities.SeeAppendix5.ThedistanceosomeareassuchasinnorthDonegalandCastletownbereinWestCorkromtheurbancentresisevident.Typicallytheseremoteregionsareeconomicallydisadvantagedandhavelimitedattractionoryoungpeopleseekingopportunitiesoragoodlivelihood.Forinstance,

intheareassurroundingCastletownberethelevelounemploymentissubstantiallyabovethenationalaverage;inpartsothenorthwest,theparticipationinthirdleveleducationisbelowthenationalrate.Muchothesocio-economicabricocoastalareasinvolvedinshingandtheseaoodindustrygenerallyisintrinsicallylinkedtotheactivitiesandprotabilityothesectorandtheimportanceotheseaoodindustrytotheeconomicviabilityothecoastalandremoteregionscannotbeoverstated.

3(A).3 Main Lessons Learned rom the

Programming Period 2000-2006

UndertheNDP000-006,150millioninExchequerandEUundswasallocatedorinvestmentintheseaoodsector.DevelopmentundingwaschannelledthroughourOperationalProgrammes(OPs)undertheFinancialInstrumentorFisheriesGuidance(FIFG):

n ProductiveSectorOP,

n BorderMidlandsandWestern(BMW)RegionalProgramme,

n SouthandEastern(S&E)RegionalProgramme,

n EmploymentandHumanResourcesDevelopmentOP.

Assistedbythisinvestmentthetotalvalueotheseaoodindustryincreasedrom617million

in000to70millionin005:asignicantachievementagainstabackgroundodecliningquotasandstrictercompliance.TheimpactotheNDP000-006alsoservedtounlockprivateinvestmentinthesectorwhileatalocalleveleconomicactivityhasbeenstimulatedthroughtheprovisionoincomeandemploymentopportunitiesinareaswithewalternatives.

EvaluationReportsthathavecommentedonseaoodindustrysupportinthe000-06period,

includedtheMid-TermEvaluations(MTEs)andMid-TermEvaluationUpdates(MTEUs)ortheNDPandCommunitySupportFramework(CSF)000-06;theProductiveSectorOperationalProgramme000-06;theEmploymentandHumanResourcesDevelopmentOperationalProgramme000-06;theBorder,MidlandandWesternRegionalOperationalProgramme000-06;andtheSouthernandEasternRegionalOperationalProgramme000-06.


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Fisheries

Themaincriticismresultingromthemidtermreviewothe000-006ProductiveSectorOperationalProgrammeinrespectomeasuresorthesheriessectorwasthatnancialandphysicalprogressatthetimeothereviewwaslow(14.7%).However,whencontractualcommitmentsweretakenintoaccounttheactualsituationwasthatprogresswasinexcesso50% .Thedelayswerepartial lyexplainedbydelays

intheapprovalothePriority(untilDecember000)and,consequently,inobtainingStateAidapprovalortheMeasuresandtheimpactonewEUregulations,adoptedinDecember00,whichplacedlimitson(a)thegrantaidingonewshingvesselsand(b)theextentotheshingeortpermittedinthenorth-west.

InthenewOP,theSea-sheriesDevelopmentProgrammespendingproleisront-loadedto

anextentthatbythetimethemidtermreviewtakesplaceitisintendedthatalmost90%othetotalco-undedprogrammeswillhavebeenspent.Additionally,allco-undedprogrammesarescheduledorcompletionby31December010.Further,theadviceromtheEvaluatorstointroducemoreclarity,transparency,andcompetitioninprojectselectionhasbeennotedandwillunderpinthenextprogramme.

UndertheOperationalProgramme000-006

theundingprovisionordecommissioning(i.e.individualdecommissioningrate)waspredeterminedinCommunitylegislationwithanupperlimitonthelevelograntaidavailableoranyvesselwishingtoexitthefeet.Thelevelsetorthisupperlimitmaypartial lyexplainthelowtakeuponthisintervention.Conversely,agreaterallocationmighthaveallowedorsignicantgreateradjustmentothefeetthatwould,inturn,haveassistedwiththestockrecoveryprogrammesandotherconservationmeasuresputinplacetoaddressthosespeciesindangerobeingover-shed.

Duringthe000-006programmingperiodsaetyandeciencylevelswithinthesectorweresignicantlyimprovedthroughgrant-aidingnewvessels,themodernisationoexistingvessels,supportoressentialsaetyequipmentandsaetytraining.

Oneothemainlessonslearnedovertheprogrammingperiod000-06wastheneedoramorecompetitivesectoratallstagesinthesupplychain.Thisisespeciallythecaseinthecontext

ostatic/decliningquotasandparticularlywhenacedwithincreasinglycompetitivemarketsandgrowingpressuresromlarge-scalebuyers.Whilesignicantprogresswasmadeinthisareaduringthe000-006programmeperiod,itremainsthecasethat,ateverystageinthesupplychain,theindustrymuststriveevermoretooperateatmaximumeciencyandcosteectiveness.Signicantopportunityexistsorongoingimprovementinthisareaandtheindustrymustbeencouragedtobemoreinnovative,improve

productqualityandotherstandardsandengageinaccreditedqualityprogrammes.Inparticular,attentionmustbepaidtoidentiyinghowqualitystandardscanbemaintainedonboardvessels.

Anotherclearlessonromthe000-006programmeperiodisthatthepre-occupation,byindustry,withsupplyrelatedissuesmeantthatinsucientattentionhasbeenpaidtodevelopmentsinenvironmentalpoliciesandtheirpotentialimpactontheindustry.Addressingthisdecitwill

beacriticaleatureothe007-013programmingperiodandeaturesprominentlyinthisOP.

Duringthe000-006programmingperiod,signicantprogresswasmadedevelopinganewShellshManagementFrameworkorIrelandsinshoresheriessectorandprovidingtheinormationrequiredtoenableinormedmanagementdecisionsorthesector.Asolidoundationhasbeenlaidortheuturesustainabilityotheinshoresectorbytheestablishmentoanewsheriesmanagementsystemorshellsh.Continuedsupportortheseinitiativesisessential


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0


iwearetomaintaintheeconomicviabilityothesector,thestocksonwhichitdepends,andtheabricocoastalcommunities.

InitiativesaimedatsupportingcoastalcommunitiesundertheSupporting Measuresinterventionothe000-006OperationalProgrammeencouragedtheprovisionoacilitiesanddevelopmentotechniquesaimedatmaximisingthevalueoseaoodlanded.Theseinitiativesprovidedmucho

theinormationwhichwillberequiredtoexpandthissupportunderthenewOP,thesuccessulimplementationowhichisdesignedtosecuretheviabilityoislandandcoastalcommunities.

IndevelopinganoperationalprogrammeorthecomingyearsitisimperativethatwealsorefectcareullyonwhathasalreadybeenachievedwithCommunitystructuralundingundertheNationalDevelopmentPlan000-006.IndoingsowehighlightthoseareasthatshouldcontinuetoreceiveCommunitynancialaidgoingorward,andgleannewdirectionsthatmustnowbemappedandollowed.

WhileoveralltheNDP/FIFG000-006programmehasseenhugeinroadsmadeinmanycriticalareas,somemeasurespromotedbytheFIFGhavenotleadtotheexpectedresults.Itisthereore,clearthatwemustnowaimatabetteruseoEFFundsthroughamoreecientsetomeasures.

Fisheries critical successes achieved during

the 2000-2006 programme period

n Therenewalandrestructuringothefeet.

n Thedevelopmentotheinshoresector.

n Anincreasedtransparencyinthemanagementosheriesresourcesandthemarineenvironmentandamuchgreaterlevelostakeholderinvolvement.

n Animprovedknowledgeandunderstandingomanycommerciallyimportantspecies.

n Thedevelopmentanddeploymentonoveltechnicalmeasures.

n Araisedawarenessandimplementationoquality,hygiene,andaddedvalueinthesupplychain.

Areas where improvements can be achieved

and urther work is required

Ingeneralthereremainsaneedtoinvestmoreinhumanresourcesinalltheeldsointervention.

Similarlywemustcontinuetopromoteequalopportunityinallareas.Therealsoremainsaneedtoworktowardsasimpliedconceptualandregulatoryramework,andpromotetransparency,user-riendliness,andfexibilityoimplementation.

Resource Issues

n Forthefeetthereremainsanurgentneedtocontinuethedrivetowardsasustainablebalancebetweenavailableresourcesandshingcapacity

n Wemustcontinuetosupportinvestmentsaimedatgainingmorebenetromcatches.

n Weneedtodeepenourunderstandingothesheriesresourcebase.

n RealtimemanagementotheresourceandthemarineenvironmentshouldremainatargetoutureOperationalProgrammes.

n Wemustencouragetheadoptionocatchingandproductiontechniquesthatarecompatible

withthesustainableuseotheenvironmentandtheconservationonaturalresources.

n Wemustcontinuetopromoteselectiveandenvironmentallyriendlyormsoshing.

Fisheries and the Marine Environment

n Signicantattentionmustbepaidtotheconservationandrestorationohabitatstomeetinternationalobligationsinrelationtotheconservationoshstocksandthe

maintenanceooverallbiodiversitytargets.


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n Haltingthelossobiodiversitywithinthemarineenvironmentinparticularwheresuchlossisasadirectresultoshingorshingrelatedactivitiesmustbeprioritised.

n Furthergreeningothesectormustbeencouragedtheremustbegreaterinterventioninsupportotheenvironment.

n Weneedtodeepenourunderstandingothemarineenvironment,particularlyintheareaobase-linedataacquisition.Thisknowledgewillinturneedinto,andtherebyimprovethetechnicalandscienticadviceavailabletomanagersandpolicymakers.

n Wemustpromoteenergyecientormsoshing.

n Wemustpreventpollutionandcorrectitsnegativeconsequences.

n Wemustincreasesupportorundertakingsthatreducenegativeenvironmentalimpactsonthesector.

n Wemustcontributemoredirectlytonatureconservationandnaturalresourcesmanagementvia,orexample,thecreationoprotectedmarineareasandtheprotectionozonesavourabletothereproductionospecies.

Sustainable Development o Coastal

Fishing Areas

n TheOperationalProgrammemustcontributemoredirectlytothesocio-economicdevelopmentocoastalareasandoshingcommunities.

n Anewocusmustbegiventotheretrainingoworkersintheareasaectedbyadeclineinshingactivities.

n Anewemphasismustbegiventotherestructuringrequiredbythechangingeconomicandmarketenvironmentotheareasaectedbyadeclineinshingactivities.

n Interventionsshouldbespecicallytargetedatintegratedcoastaldevelopmentinkeycoastalareasaswellasatsmall-scalelocalenterprises

incoastalareaslinkedinsomewaytotheshingsector.

Aquaculture

ThemainlessonlearnedromthepreviousprogrammeinaquacultureandhavingregardtocommentsmadeintheMTEReport,isthatthereisaneedtoalloworagreatertimelagbetweenapprovaloinvestmentprojectsandtheresultantincreaseinoutputromtheinvestmentimplemented.

Experiencegainedromtheprogrammingperiod000-006pointstotheneedorallsectorsothe

Irishaquacultureindustrytobeinternationallycompetitive,particularlyintermsotheirunitcostoproduction.Thiswillrequireongoinginvestmentinnewtechnologyandappliedtesting,togetherwiththenecessarytrainingtomaximisethebenetromthateort.Theimpactonewarmingtechnologiesinrecirculation,efuentwatertreatmentandimprovedstockgeneticswillbetolowerunitcostsandtokeepthesectorcompetitive.

Alackoconsistentprotabilityhasbesetthe

salmonarmingsectorinIrelandinrecentyears.ThiswasbroughtaboutbythedumpingobelowcostsalmonontheEUmarketandsub-optimalstockperormancewithregardtoeedconversionratiosandsurvival.TheintroductionbytheEUin005oMinimumImportPrices(MIP)orarmedsalmonorveyearshaslargelyaddressedmarketissuesrelatedtodumping.Recentimprovementsinhusbandry,stockbreedingandeedingpracticeshaveimprovedsurvivalandperormanceandeectiveappliedtestingisongoingandexpectedto

urtheramelioratethesituationinuture.Howeverthereisaveryrealneedtoinvesturthertoimprovetheunitcostoproductioninsalmonarming.

ThebottomgrownmusselsectorhasbeenthemostsuccessulcomponentoIrishaquaculture.SeedmusselintheIrishSeaisasharedresourcebetweenIrelandandNorthernIrelandandthismakestheregulationothissectoracomplexissue.Areviewohowthesectoristoberegulatedanddeveloped,onanall-islandbasisandtheadministrativearrangementsthatwillsupportthesustainabledevelopmentothebottommussel


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industryintotheutureiscurrentlyunderway.Apartromthesemanagementissues,thereareserioustechnicalchallengesacingthesector,inparticular,theissueoimprovingtheyieldromtheseedmusselthatisre-laid.Aconcentrationonmaximisingtheyieldromre-laidseedmussel,supportedbythenecessarytraining,appliedtestingandcarryingcapacitystudiesisurgentlyrequiredtoensurethesustainableutureotheon-growingelementothesector.Atpresentmostotheoutputisexportedinanundierentiatedbulkormandthereisscopetoaddsignicantvalue.

AcrossallsectorsotheaquacultureindustryinIreland,thereisaneedtocreatearevisedsetoarrangementsorthemonitoringandregulationosharmsthatdelivermaximumcondencetoallothestakeholdersatacostthatiseconomicallysustainabletothearmerandtheState.

Aquaculture Environment

TheCLAMS(Co-ordinatedLocalAquacultureManagementSystems)processisanationwideinitiativetomanagethedevelopmentoaquacultureinbaysthroughoutIrelandatalocallevel.TheprocessullyintegratesaquacultureinterestswithrelevantnationalandEuropeanUnionpoliciesaswellassinglebaymanagementpractices,theinterestsootherusersothebays,integratedcoastalzonemanagementplansandCountyDevelopmentPlans.TheCLAMSprocesswasimplementedwithundingromtheFIFGundertheNDP000to006andwashighly

successulinthatitrepresentedaurtherpro-activestepbyshandshellsharmerstoengageinpublicconsultationontheirexistingandutureplanswithallrelevantinterestsandintheprocessreducethepotentialorconfict.

The Seaood Development Programme (SDP) under

Peace II

Theobjectiveothisprogrammewastobenettheseaoodprocessingindustryonacrossborder/crosscommunitybasis.Theactivities

otheprogrammeenabledplayersintheseaoodindustrytopoolresourcesandnetwork

inormation.FeedbackromparticipantsandtheGovernmentindicatesthattheseinitiativeshelpedcompaniesonbothsidesotheBorderestablishqualitycrossborder/crosscommunityrelationships.Combinedeortsbetweenproducersbroughtaboutconcretebenetssuchastakingadvantageoeconomiesoscale,sharingmarketinormationandwinningnewbusiness.Thoseparticipatinghaveindicatedthatnoneothesebenetswouldhavebeenderivedintheabsenceotheprogramme.TheGovernmentconsulteesalsoreportedthecreationosignicantsynergiesbetweenDepartmentsandbroadersheriesmanagementknowledgetranser.

Insummary,the000-06NDPmarkedthebeginningoaprocessorestructuringandtransormationotheindustryacrossallitssectors.However,despitetheprogressmadeandthecontinuingstrongdemandorseaood,thesupplysidestillacesseriouschallengesmainlyduetodecliningshstocks,decliningquotas,structural

imbalancesatcatchingandprocessinglevels,andunreliablesupplyoaquacultureproducts.

EssentialtotheachievementothevisionoIrelandsstrategyortheseaoodindustryasoutlinedinSteering a New Course,isaurthersharpreductioninshingcapacityandeort;moreeectivemanagementandconservationosheries;amuchbiggerroleoraquacultureinmeetingtheincreasingdemandorseaoodandarestructuredprocessingsector.

3(A).4 Context Indicators

TheoverallobjectiveotheGovernmentsNationalDevelopmentPlan007-013istoprovidebalancedregionaldevelopmentandsocialinclusiveness.Approximately40%oIrelandspopulationliveinruralareasandtheseruralareaspresentdierentexperiences,economicallyandsocially.Theregionalandcoastallocationotheseaoodindustrycontributestotheachievementothisobjectivebyprovidingopportunitiesto

maintainingpopulationsandlivelihoodsinthecoastalregions.


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Muchothesocio-economicabricocoastalareasinvolvedinshingisintrinsicallylinkedtotheactivitiesandprotabilityotheshingindustry.Thereoreconstraintsarisingromstructuralandoperationalchangesintheshingsector,developmentsonworldmarkets,dwindlingsheriesresourcesandtheneedtoexploitnaturalresourcesandtheenvironmentinasustainablemanner,haveanimmediateimpactonthebalanceandqualityolieinthesecommunities.

Primary Production

Theprimaryoutputromthesheriesandaquaculturesectorsin000and006ispresentedinTable3.5below.In006outputamountedto336,054tonnesvaluedat346.million.

ThevolumeandvalueoshlandedbyIrishvesselsin006amountedto78,63tonnesand1million.Involumeterms,thebulkolandingscomprisepelagicspecies(i.e.herring,mackerelandhorsemackerel)at193,196tonnesvaluedat73.6million.Landingsoshellshamountedto57,834tonnesvaluedat97.7millionandwhiteshamountedto7,601tonnesvaluedat50.1million.Thevalueooutputromtheaquacultureindustryreached14millionin006rom57,4

tonnesoshandshellsh.Theshellshsectorcontributed44,696tonnesothisoutputvaluedat63.millionwhileoutputromnsharmswas1,76tonnesvaluedat61.4million.

Table 3.5 Primary Production rom Fisheries and Aquaculture

2000 2006

toNNes 000 toNNes 000

Total Landings at home ports 197,197 155,085 190,53 161,764

Total Landings at oreign ports 75,679 33,946 88,379 59,594

Total landing at all ports 7,876 189,031 78,63 1,358

o which:

- Whitesh 36,77 65,330 7,601 50,031

- Pelagic 06,576 65,91 193,196 73,604

- Shellsh 9,58 57,789 57,834 97,73

Total landing at all ports 272,876 189,031 278,632 221,358

Aquaculture ProductionFinsh 0,170 75,36 1,76 61,41

Shellsh 31,110 1,510 44,696 63,48

Total Aquaculture 51,280 96,872 57,422 124,660

Total Fishing and Aquaculture 324,156 285,903 336,054 346,018

Source:DepartmentoAgriculture,FisheriesandFoodandBIM


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Exports

Between000and006,totalseaoodexportsincreasedinvalueby6.95%rom331millionto355million.Duringthesameperiod,thetotalvolumeoexportsdecreasedby4%rom16,56tonnesin000to163,66tonnesin006.Theshellshcategoryaccountedorthelargestincreaseinsalesvalueduringtheperiod,totalsalesoshellshgrewrom10.9millionin000to147.4millionin006.

The Fishing Fleet

AsoNovember007theIrishshingfeetconsistso1,914vesselsregisteredin5segments(polyvalent,beamtrawl,pelagic,specic,andaquaculture.

n ThePolyvalentsectorcomprising1,76vessels,representing90%othevesselsinthe

feetand56%ocapacity(GTs).n TheBeam trawlsegmentcomprising13

dedicatedvesselsor


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Impact o decommissioning on employment

in the feet sector

Theimpactothecurrent(008)decommissioningschemeonemploymentwithinthecatchingsectorwill,ultimately,dependonthenumberandsizeovesselsdecommissionedaswellasthere-employmentopportunitieswithinthesector.Basedontheapplicationsreceived(asoMay008)itislikelythatupto50individualwillbedirectlyaected;thatis,theyareorhavebeen

crew(intheperiodleadinguptotheintroductionothescheme)onvesselslikelytodecommission.

n Itisthecase,inIreland,thatcurrentcrewshortallswithinthesectorwillensurethatapercentageothosedirectlyaectedbydecommissioningwillndimmediateandeectivere-employmentonvesselsremaininginthefeet.

n ItisalsoprojectedthatasignicantnumberothoseaectedbythedecommissioningschemeareexperiencedshermenromcountriesotherthanIreland.

Table 3.7 Industry Employment 2000-2006

2000 2006

Full time Part time& Casual

total Full time Part time& Casual

total

Fisheries 4,767 1,433 6,00 3,94 1,063 4,987

Aquaculture 830 ,075 ,905 718 1,18 1,936

Processing ,110 ,097 4,07 ,05 66 ,867

Ancillary *1,500 1,500 *1,185 1,185

TOTAL 9,207 5,605 14,812 8,032 2,943 10,975

*Includesparttime.Source:BIM

Figure 3.1 Distr ibution o employment, by region, in 2006

Source:BIM


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n Othersmayoptorre-trainingandBord IascaighMharaiscurrentlyinvestigatingpossibilitiesinthisarea;especiallyinthecontextothosewishingtoretrainortheMerchantMarine.

n Additionally,itisintendedthataspartothewiderinitiativetobeintroducedunderAXIS4,aCommunity Support Schemewillbeincorporatedaimedspecicallyatcrewdirectlyaectedbydecommissioning.WhilegrantaidunderthisschemewillNOTincludeindividual

paymentstoaectedshermen,projectsthatincludere-employment/diversicationopportunitiesortheseshermenwillscoreadditionalmarksintheselectionprocess.

3(B) Driving Forces, Challenges and

Opportunities Facing the Irish SeaoodIndustry

TheIrishseaoodindustryhasrecordedsignicant

progressasaresultotheinvestmentmadeundertheNDP000-006.However,theindustryiscurrentlyintransitionalphaseandisacingarangeodevelopmentalchallenges,primarilyrelatingtodecliningstocksandaconsequentstructuralimbalanceatcatchingandprocessinglevels.Inordertodeliverasustainableandprotableseaoodindustry,itisparamountthatthechallengesacingtheindustryareaddressedinthecomingyears.Thiswillrequireaconcertedeortonthepartoallindustrystakeholdersincludingshermen,

industryrepresentativeorganisations,GovernmentDepartmentandStateDevelopmentAgencies.

Thechallengesandopportunitiesaregroupedundersevencorethemes.Fourothese:(i)FleetRestructuring,DevelopmentandManagement,(ii)Aquaculture,(iii)ProcessingRestructuring&Developmentand(iv)MarketDevelopment&Innovationareoasectoralnature,whiletheremainingthree:(v)Competitiveness,(vi)Education&Trainingand(vii)Environment,haverelevancetotheentireindustry.The keydriversothesecorethemesareoutlinedbelow:

Fleet Restructuring, Development and

Management

Over75%otheshstocksinthewatersaroundIrelandarebelowsaebiologicallimitsandmanyurgentlyneedtoberebuiltromtheirpresentlowlevels.Irishdemersalquotas(whiteshandprawns)haveallenby37%since1995;themackerelquotaisdown40%inthesameperiod;herringquotasaredown35%;andhorse-mackerelisdown55%since1998.AsIrelandsquotashare

oallthekeycommercialstocksisxedunderthePrincipleoRelativeStability,accessingadditionalcatchingopportunitiesthroughchangestotheCFPisnotanoption.Consequently,reducingfeetcapacity,eort,andshingmortalityonshstocksaswellasdevelopinglongtermmanagementplansmustdrivethinkingonsheriesmanagementormanyyearstocome.

Increasingtheresourcebasebygainingaccesstooverseassheriesthroughthirdcountryandprivateagreementsremainsapossibility,althoughsuchopportunitiesrepresentanewdepartureorIrishvesselsandareonlyappropriateorasmallcomponentothepelagicfeet.Inadditiontheseopportunitiesare,generally,onlyimportantortheindividualcompaniesinvolvedandromanationalperspectivedonotdeliversignicantdirectreturnstoIrelandscoastalcommunities.Ihowever,theyresultinreducedcompetitionortraditionalstocksinhomewatersthen,clearly,thirdcountryandprivateagreementsimpactdirectlyontheviabilityotheremainingfeet.

Itisabundantlyclearthat,decommissioningtodatenotwithstanding,thecatchingcapacityinkeyfeetsectorscurrentlyexceedstheresourcesavailabletoIrishvesselsinEUwaters.Thisisexacerbatedorcertainstocks,wherethenumberandcatchingcapacityovesselsengagedinthesesheriesgreatlyexceedstheresourcesavailable.Thishasledtodicultieswithinthesectorandalsohasincreasedtensionbetweenvesselownersandthecontrolauthoritiesasvesselshavestriven

tomaintaineconomicviability.


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Thecriticalchallengenowacingtheshingfeetremainsthetimelyandappropriatelymanagedevolutionoacatchingsectorthatisadjustedtoascaleconsistentwithavailableresources;thatoperatesunderandsupportsaFisheriesManagementRegime(comprisingbothaQuotaManagementSystemandaFleetManagementandLicensingpolicy)thatisequitableandtransparent;thatincorporateseectivecontrolandenorcementmechanisms;thatdeliversbiologicallysustainablestocks;thatpromotes

economicviabilityandstabilityorvesselowners;andwhichgeneratesagreaterocusonmarketneeds.

Similarly,thebalanceddevelopmentandsustainablemanagementoinshorestocksbasedonanintegratedInshoreDevelopmentStrategyanddevelopedinpartnershipwiththekeystakeholdersinvolvedisthecriticalchallengeacingtheinshorefeet.

Additionallytheintroductionoeectivetechnicalmeasuressupplementedwithstrong

controlandenorcementmustbeakeypartouturemanagement.Scientists,managers,andstakeholdersmustcontinuetoworktogetherthroughtheRegionalAdvisoryCouncilstoensureaccuratedataareavailabletodevelopthelongtermmanagementmeasuresthatwillberequiredtorebuildandsustainablymanagetheresource.

Finally,pursuingstrategiesthatincreaselandingsromnon-Irishfeetsisanothersignicantchallengeortheuture.Suchlandings,whilst

notdirectlycontributingtothecatchingsector,provideincreasethroughputsandeconomicactivityinIrishshingports.

Aquaculture

Theaquacultureindustrystil lhassomewaytogotoachieveitsdevelopmentpotential,despitestatesupport,theabsenceoquotasandthescopeatnationallevelthatexiststoinfuencethissectorsdevelopment.Oneotheactorsconstrainingtheurtherexpansionotheaquaculturesectorin

Ireland,asidentiedintheSteering a New Coursestrategydocument,isthatthereissignicant

publicconcernregardingperceivedenvironmentalimpactsarisingromtheactivity.Demonstratingtheenvironmentalsustainabilityotheaquaculturesector(e.g.compliancewiththeobjectivesotheEUwaterandnaturelegislation)willhelpdispelanyundueconcerns.

Environment

ItisclearromtheoregoingthatIrelandsshingandaquacultureindustryremainsanimportant

andvaluablesourceoeconomicactivitybothonanationalscaleand,particularly,intheremotecoastalcommunitiesinwhichitislargelybased.Itisanindustrythathasseensteadymarketgrowth,isastrongexporteroshproductsanddespiterecentcontractions,thecatchingsectoralonecontinuestoprovideinexcesso5,000directjobswhileanadditional10,000jobsonshorearedependentoncatchesromIrishvessels.Despitethisthereiswidespreadconcernabouttheutureotheindustry.Thisconcerncomesnotonlyromawider

populationkeentoosterabetterenvironment,butalsoromwithintheshingindustryitsel.Therearemorecomplexdrivingorces:

n Thereareconcernsabouttheapparentinabilityoourcurrentapproachtodeliverhealthystockswhoseexploitationissustainableandwhereshingisundertakenwithoutnegativeimpactonthewidermarineenvironment.

n Thereisconcerntooaboutthecriticallylow

sizeosomeshstocksandtheshingpressureexerteduponmanyothersthatareoutsidesaebiologicallimits.Thereisalsoagrowinganxietythatsomepreviouslynon-quota,particularlydeep-water,specieshavebeenshedtooheavilyinsomeareas;thatdamagetotheseabedmaybewidespreadandthatthiscouldultimatelyimpactonotherspecies,includingsh,thatdependonthesehabitatsandthecommunitiesthatbuilduparoundthem.

n Poorlyunderstoodoodwebsarepossiblybeingdamagedwithunknownbutpotentiallysignicantconsequences.


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n Marinemammalstoomaybeatriskastheyaretakenasanincidentalby-catchinsomesheries.Forsomeothesespeciesthisunwanted,butalltoootendisregarded,exploitationcoupledwithwiderunseenenvironmentaldegradationmayrenderlocalpopulationsunsustainable.

n AselsewhereintheEuropeanCommunity,Irelandsmarineenvironmentisacedwithanumberothreatsincludinglossordegradationobiodiversityandchangesin

itsstructure,lossohabitats,contaminationbydangeroussubstancesandnutrientsandimpactsoclimatechange.

Critically,thelong-termsustainabilityoboththesheriesandaquaculturesectorisdirectlylinkedtoourabilitytomaintainhealthyshstocksandtomaintainahealthymarineenvironment.Thechallengeoachievingbothothesebecomesanopportunityortheuture.Astheevolutionoaneconomicallyviableandsociallystableseaood

sectorremainsacentraltenetothisOperationalProgramme,de actoakeydrivingorceistoaddressinter aliatheenvironmentalchallengessetouthere.

n StewardshipothemarineenvironmentisonepillaruponwhichEUpolicydecisionsrefectnational,international,andpublicconcernsontheenvironment.Fosteringanewanddeeperunderstandingthroughouttheseaoodindustryoitsobligationtomaintainadiverseandrobustmarineenvironmentisbothachallenge

andanopportunityidentiedinthisOP.n Achievingabetterstewardshipothemarine

environmentwillalsodependonasensibleandresponsibleapproachtoconservationandtotheindustrysenvironmentalperormance,whichwillrequirestrongpolicysupportatEUandnationallevel.

TheinitiativessetoutinthisOperationalProgrammeFleetRestructuring,theintroductionoEnvironmentalManagement

Systems,andimprovedFisheriesManagementhavebeenselectedtoindividually(andin

combination)provideanewplatormtomeethead-ontheenvironmentalchallengesidentied.Additionally,theywill,incombinationwithotherinitiativessetoutelsewhereinthisOperationalProgrammeandintheNationalStrategicPlanensurethattheopportunitiestobegainedbymeetingthesechallengesareullyrealised.

Processing Restructuring and Development

Similartoothersectorswithintheoodindustry,

seaoodprocessingoperatesinanincreasinglydicultenvironment.Inordertoestablishaprotable,competitiveandsustainableseaood-processingsector,signicantrestructuringandconsolidationtothecurrentprocessingcongurationneedstooccur,accompanied byamajorperormanceuplit.

Market Development and Innovation

Thedevelopmentoeectivemarketingandinnovationstrategieswillenablethemaximum

possiblevaluetobeachievedoreachtonneoshlandedorharvested.

Recognisingthecurrentchallengesacedbytheprocessingandmarketingsector,theNationalSeaoodStrategywillaimtoaddresscriticalsupplychainandmarketingweaknesses,supportagreatlyenhancedinnovationandnewproductdevelopment(NPD)perormancewithinthesectoranddevelopasignicantuplitinmanagementcapabilityandknowledge.

Thekeygrowthopportunitiesininternationalmarketsinadditiontothedomesticmarketinclude:

n Natural health and well-being products:Focusedonthenaturalgoodnessoshandtheprovennutritionalbenets.

n Products that are convenient and easy toprepare:Targetingthepremiumendotheconveniencecategory.

n Snacking, grazing and fexi-eatingopportunities: Withinthesnackingcategorycurrentlyvaluedat66billionacrossEurope.


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oPPortuNities threats

Seaood Industry:

n Demandorseaoodgrowingn Potentialorhighvaluegenerationromeverypart

oseaoodproductionchain

n IndustryparticipationintheprocessoimplementationortheSeaoodStrategy007-13

n Tobalanceenvironmentalneedswithmarketorganisation

n PotentialotheTrainingelementoOperationalProgramme007-13tosupportachievement

oobjectivesrehighervaluegenerationandenvironmentallysoundproductionpractices,aswellasimprovedsaetypractice

Sea shing:

n Toachieveabalancebetweencatchingcapacityandresourcesupplyandtherebystabilisetheeconomicandsocialdynamicothecatchingsectorandthecommunitiesthatdependonit

n Industrycommitmenttoimprovedconservationpracticesandparticipationinconservationactions

Inshore shing & Coastal Communities:

n Highquality,environmentallysound,smallscaleshingorhighvaluelocalconsumption

n Workwiththesectortostrengthenmanagementarrangements

Processing & Marketing:

n Througharestructuringprogrammetotacklelackoprotabilityandpoormarketocussoastoachieveawellorganised,commerciallytprocessingandmarketingsector

n Takeadvantageotheresultsotheunctionaloodstestinginitiativetoaddvaluetoseaoodproducts

Seaood Industry:

n Theabilitytomaintainahealthymarineenvironmentn Verylowinvestmentintheareaoinnovation,

technologytranserandnewproductdevelopment

Sea shing:

n Sustainabilityoshstocks75%ostocksoutsidesaebiologicallimits

n Unsustainableeortlevels

Inshore shing & Coastal Communities:

n Lackoawarenessomarketopportunitiesn Lackobuy-intomanagementarrangements

Processing & Marketing:

n Fragmentationandlackoprotabilityintheprocessingsector

n Uncertaintyosupplyandshortageorawmaterial

3(C) Description o Marine Environmentand Labour Market Conditions

3(C).1 Description o Marine Environment

Europesmarineenvironmentisacedwithincreasingandseverethreats.Theevidenceothedeterioratingstatusoourseasandoceanshascontinuedtoaccumulateoverthepastthreeyears.Europesmarinebiodiversityisdecreasingandcontinuestobealtered.Marinehabitatsarebeingdestroyed,degradedanddisturbed.Theprincipal

threatstothemarineenvironmentthathavebeenidentiedinclude:

n Theeectsoclimatechange;n Pollution;

n Litter;

n Microbiologicalpollution;

n Oilspillsasaresultoaccidentsaswellaspollutionromshippingandoshoreoilandgasexploration;

n Pollutionromshipdismantling;

n Noisepollution;n Certaintypesoshinggear;


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n Theimpactsoillegalorunregulatedshing;

n Theintroductionoharmulnon-nativespeciesprincipallythroughdischargeoshipsballastwaterandleisurecrat;

n Nutrientenrichment(eutrophication)andassociatedalgalblooms;

n Dischargesoradionuclides.

Water Framework Directive

ThedirectiveestablishingarameworkorCommunityactionintheeldowaterpolicy,commonlyknownastheWaterFrameworkDirective(WFD),wasormallyadoptedbytheEUParliamentandCouncilinOctober000andincorporatedintoIrishlawbyRegulationinDecember003.ThatRegulationsidentiedIrelandsEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)andlocalauthoritiesasthecompetentauthoritiesortheimplementationothedirective.Inaddition,

theRegulationsidentiyotherpublicbodiesthatarerequiredtoassistintheimplementationprocess.

l TheRegulationsidentiyourRiverBasinDistricts(RBDs)whollywithintheState(Eastern,South-Eastern,South-WesternandWestern)andthreeInternationalRiverBasinDistrictssharedwithNorthernIreland(Shannon,North-WesternandNeagh-Bann).

l ImplementationatRBDlevelisbeingundertakenbythelocalauthoritieswiththeassistanceoconsultants.

l SpecialarrangementshavebeenmadewiththeNorthernIrelandauthoritiestoundertaketheimplementationinthethreeInternationalRiverBasinDistricts.

l AnationalsteeringcommitteewasconvenedbytheDepartmentotheEnvironment,HeritageandLocal

Governmentin001tooverseetheimplementationotheDirective.In

January004,theEPAconvenedaTechnicalCo-ordinationGrouptodealwiththisatamoredetailedlevel;anumberoWorkingGroupshavebeenestablishedundertheormertoinvestigateandmakeproposalsonspecicmatters.

n WaterQualityinmostestuariesandbaysaroundIrelandishigh.Someareasexperiencede-oxygenationandanumberoareas,mainlyintheeastandsouth,havebeenclassiedaseutrophic.

n Thequalityoshellshwatersisgenerallygoodandtheurtherdesignationo54newsitesinadditiontotheexisting14shellshwaterswillensuregreaterprotectionoareaswhereshellsharegrown.

n HarmulAlgalBlooms(HABs)anaturally

occurringphenomenonwhenmicro-algalspeciesthatproducetoxinsbecomeconcentratedinshellshandposearisktohumanhealthcanleadtoextendedclosureperiodsorharvestingoshellsh.SamplingorHarmulAlgalBloomsisongoing.

n WorkiscurrentlybeingundertakenbyboththeEPAandtheMarineInstitutetomonitornutrientcontentintheIrishandCelticSea.WhileitisnotedthatthereisnoexcessivenutrientenrichmentintheseareasitisrecognisedthatthereisaneedtoexpandactivitiesintotheremainingcoastalareasinthenextewyearstollthismajorgapinourinormationonthequalityoIrelandscoastalandoshorewaters.

n TheGeologicalSurveyoIrelandandtheMarineInstituteiscurrentlyundertakingamajorstudyINFOMARtomapthephysical,chemicalandbiologicaleaturesotheIrishseabed.


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3


Marine Directive

TheMarineStrategyFrameworkDirective(MSFD)becamelawon17June,008.TheMFSD(EUDirective008/56/EC)isastrategyormarineenvironmentalprotection.TheMSFDwillconstitutetheenvironmentalpillarothenewEUMaritimePolicyandrequiresEuropesOceanstoachievegoodecologicalstatus.TheMSFDoreseesthecreationoEuropeanMarineRegionsandSub-Regionstoact

asmanagementunitsoritsimplementationandobligesmemberstatestoco-operateondevelopingthemarinestrategiesortheirwatersthatliewithintheseregions.Measurestoachieveormaintaingoodenvironmentalstatusmustbedevelopedby015toenterintooperationby016atthelatestinordertoachievethe00targets.MSFDwillembracetheecosystembasedapproachtomanagingallhumanactivitiesinthemarine.Itwillenableasustainableuseomarinegoodsandservicesandpromoteadaptive

managementotheoceans.ItwillundergoasixyearcycleorevisionandreviewandwillseektoensurecooperationbetweenMemberStatesandregionalconventions(e.g.OSPAR).TheMSFDstatesthatTheCommonFisheriesPolicy,includingitsuturereorm,shouldtakeintoaccounttheenvironmentalimpactsoshingandtheobjectivesothisDirective.

Natura 2000

InitssubmissiontotheEUMaritimeGreenPaper

Irelandnotedthat increasing knowledge o both themarine environment and obligations on Member States

under the Habitats Directive will lead to an increasing

number o designations o Marine Protected Areas.

Ireland has identifed and submitted 96 such Areas to

the Commission or inclusion under the Natura 2000

sites, our o which lie beyond territorial waters. Ireland

believes that a European Maritime Policy could useully

address the relationship between these Member State

obligations under the Habitats Directive and the common

policy management ar rangements under the Common

Fisheries Policy, or sites proposed outside territorialwaters but within Member States EEZs.

ThelegalbasisonwhichSACs(SpecialAreasoConservation)areselectedanddesignatedistheEUHabitatsDirective,transposedintoIrishlawintheEuropeanUnion(NaturalHabitats)Regulations,1997asamendedin1998and005.TheDirectivelistscertainhabitatsandspeciesthatmustbeprotectedwithinSACs.

Irishhabitatsincluderaisedbogs,blanketbogs,turloughs,sanddunes,machair(fatsandyplains

onthenorthandwestcoasts),heaths,lakes,rivers,woodlands,estuariesandseainlets.The5IrishspecieswhichmustbeaordedprotectionincludeSalmon,Otter,FreshwaterPearlMussel,BottlenoseDolphinandKillarneyFern.

TheareaschosenasSACinIrelandcoveranareaoapproximately13,500squarekilometres.Roughly53%island,theremainderbeingmarineorlargelakes.

Candidate Special Areas o Conservation

Proposed 1997-2006


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Special Protection Areas (SPAs)

Irelandisaspecialplaceorwildbirds.WeareattheendomajorfywaysowaterowlmigratingsouthorthewinterromNorthAmerica,Greenland,IcelandandtheArctic.Inspringandsummer,IrelandprovidesimportantbreedinggroundsorspeciesromthecontinentoEuropeorArica.Ourlongcoastlinesprovidesaebreedingandwinteringgroundsorlargenumbersoseabirds.Inadditionwehaveresidentspecies

whicharescarceorrareinotherpartsoEurope.

Becausebirdsmigratelongdistances,itisnotsucienttoprotectthemoverjustpartotheirrange,sotheEUBirdsDirectiveprovidesoranetworkositesinallMemberStatestoprotectbirdsattheirbreeding,eeding,roostingandwinteringareas.Itidentiesspecieswhicharerare,indangeroextinctionorvulnerabletochangesinhabitatandwhichneedprotection.

InIreland,wehave5othesespeciesregularlyoccurring.TheyincludeBewicksandWhooperSwan,GreenlandWhite-FrontedandBarnacleGeese,Corncrake,GoldenPlover,Bar-TailedGodwit,vespeciesotern,birdsopreyincludingHenHarrier,Peregrine,MerlinaswellastheNightjar,KingsherandChough.

TheEUBirdsDirective(79/409/EEC)requiresdesignationoSPAsor:

n Listedrareandvulnerablespeciessuchasthosementionedabove.

n Regularlyoccurringmigratoryspecies,suchasducks,geeseandwaders.

n Wetlands,especiallythoseointernationalimportance,whichattractlargenumbersomigratorybirdseachyear.(Internationallyimportantmeansthat1%othepopulationoaspeciesusesthesite,ormorethan0,000

birdsregularlyusethesite.)

InIreland11SPAshavebeendesignatedsince1985.Twenty-veothersitesenjoylegalprotectionandwillshortlybedesignatedasSPAs.However,urtherdesignationsarerequiredpursuanttotheBirdsDirective.TheMinisterortheEnvironmentwillbepublishingproposalsorthedesignationoadditionalsitesonanon-goingbasisinautumn007andspring008.ItshouldbenotedthatmanyexistingandutureSPAsoverlapwithSACs.TheIrishSPAsjoinatotalo

around3,000sitesacrosstheEuropeanUnion.

Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs)

ThebasicdesignationorwildlieistheNaturalHeritageArea(NHA).Thisisanareaconsideredimportantorthehabitatspresentorwhichholdsspeciesoplantsandanimalswhosehabitatneedsprotection.

Todate,75raisedbogshavebeengivenlegalprotection,coveringsome3,000hectares.Theseraisedbogsarelocatedmainlyinthemidlands.Aurther73blanketbogs,covering37,000ha,mostlyinwesternareasarealsodesignatedasNHAs.

Inaddition,thereare630proposedNHAs(pNHAs),whichwerepublishedonanon-statutorybasisin1995.Thesesitesareosignicanceorwildlieandhabitats.SomeothepNHAsareverysmall,suchasaroostingplaceorrarebats.Othersarelargeawoodlandoralake,orexample.ThepNHAscover

approximately65,000hectaresanddesignationwillproceedonaphasedbasisoverthecomingyears.

TheGeologicalSurveyoIreland(GSI)iscompilingalistogeological/geomorphologicalsitesinneedoprotectionthroughNHAdesignation.Acommitteeoexpertgeologistsprovidesaninitiallistositeswhichthenundergoaprocessosurvey,reportingandreview,toproviderecommendationsregardingNHAstatusorotherwise.TheGSIhascompleteditslisto

karst(i.e.exposedlimestone)andearlyossilsites.


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Priortostatutorydesignation,pNHAsaresubjecttolimitedprotection,intheormo:

n RuralEnvironmentProtectionScheme(REPS)planswhichrequireconservationopNHAsandoperateoraperiodo5years

n ForestServicerequirementorNPWSapprovalbeoretheywillpayaorestationgrantsonpNHAlands

n RecognitionotheecologicalvalueopNHAsbyPlanningandLicencingAuthorities.

UndertheWildlieAmendmentAct(000)NHAsarelegallyprotectedromdamageromthedatetheyareormallyproposedordesignation.

Biodiversity action Plan

Irelandsmarineandcoastalzonesareogreatimportance.Themainthreatstobiodiversityinthecoastalzoneoccurasaresultopressureromthegrowthinhumanpopulation,demographicchange,inadequateplanningandinrastructure,tourismandoverexploitationoresources.Theresultscaninvolvethelossohabitat,pollution,eutrophication,andtheintroductionoalienspecies.

InareasotheNorthAtlantic,thecompositionoshstockshasundergonemajorchangebecauseoovershing,withadeclineinmajorcommercialshspecies.Irishwatersareamong

themostimportantareasinEuropeorCetaceaandcontainimportanteedingandbreedingareasorthosespecies.Inlightothethreatstomarinebiodiversity,therecanbelittledoubtabouttheneedtopromoteagreaterappreciationotheimportanceosuchbiodiversityandoitsvaluebothinecologicalandeconomicterms.

TheconceptoIntegratedCoastalZoneManagementhascometoprominenceinrecent

yearsintheCBDandotheroraasakeymeansoprovidingortheconservationandsustainableuseomarinebiodiversity.Irelandisintheprocessodevelopinganintegratedcoastalzonemanagementstrategy.Suchastrategyshouldplayacriticalroleinhabitatconservationtomaintainbiodiversityandhave,asacoreobjective,theconservationothebestremainingareaso

importanceorbiodiversityinthecoastalcontext;thebiodiversityinquestionisanirreplaceablepartoIrelandsheritage.

ThereisatraditionomarineresearchinIrelandandtherearecurrentlyarangeobiodiversity-relatedresearchprojectsbeingundertakenbytheMarineInstituteandthirdlevelinstitutions.Commercialseasherieshaveaconsiderableimpactonmarinebiodiversity.Theyimpactdirectlyontargetshandshellshstocks,onnon-targetshspeciesandonnon-shspeciesasby-catch,andonbenthicspeciesandcommunities.Theymayalsohaveindirecteectsonspeciesandthemarineecosystems.ManycommercialshstocksinwatersoIrelandareheavilyexploitedandseveralareconsideredtobeoutsidesaebiologicallimitsinsomeareas.Gapsanddecienciesinsherystatistics(e.g.ondiscardsorinrespectoshlandings)arealsoaproblem.

Foraquaculturetobesuccessulandsustainable,itrequiresahighqualityenvironmentandcleanwaters.Withregardtothemarinenshsectorconcernshavebeenraisedregardingpossiblenegativeinteractionwithwildsalmonidandbenthicimpacts.TheseissuesarethesubjectomitigatingactionsonthepartotheStateregulatorysystemandtherearespecicprotocolsinplacetomanagetheseimpacts.


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Inestuarine,coastalandmarineareasoIrelandpollutionisusuallylocalisedandotenoshortduration.Problemsusuallyariseromlandbaseddischarges,mainlyosewageorindustrialoriginordumpingromships.Continuation,andwherenecessaryenhancement,oongoingprogrammesandmeasuresinrelationtodirectpollutionothemarineenvironmentandtothecontroloinputsarisingrompollutedinlandwillbenecessarytoensurepollutiondoesnotimpactadverselyonthe

biodiversityocoastalandmarineecosystems.Thereisalsoaneedoradequateandreliabledataoninputsandthiswillrequirethecontinuationandextensionoexistingmonitoringprogrammesandtheirrenementwherenecessarytoovercomegapsinknowledge.

IrelandsNationalBiodiversityPlan,publishedin00andreviewedin006,containssevenmarineandcoastalactionswhicharebeingputinplacebytherelevantauthorities.IrelandiscurrentlyreviewingthestatusothisplananddevelopingitsndNationalBiodiversityPlanor008-01.

BIM,thestatesseaooddevelopmentagencyalongwiththeMarineInstitutehaveembarkedonanewworkingpartnershipwithotherstatedepartments,

particularlytheParks&WildlieServiceotheDepartmentotheEnvironmentinthisarea.

SWOT Analysis o Irish Seaood Industry rom an Environmental Perspective

streNgths WeakNess

Sea Fishing:

n Indigenousindustryusingarenewableandhighlyprizedresource

n Productiveshinggrounds

n Irishmarineecosystemsarelargelyinahealthystate.

n Stronginterestinthecatchingsectortoimprovethestateoshstocksandtoembraceenvironmentallydirecttechnicalchange.

Inshore Fishing & Coastal Communities:

n Productiveshinggrounds

n Traditional,environmentallyriendlymethodsn Resilientstocks;shouldrespondwelltomanagement

Sea Fishing:

n Lackohistoricaldataonsomeimportantstocks

n Imbalancebetweencatchingcapacityandresourcesupply

n Historicallackobuy-intoconservationinitiatives

n Qualityodataromindustry

n LowshareoTACinIrishshinggrounds

n Currentpoorimageinrelationtotheenvironmentandover-shing

n Initialhighcostlevelsoimplementingenvironmentalinitiatives

n Lackoappliedresearchopportunitiesinuniversities,otherlearninginstitutionsandresearchcommunities

Inshore Fishing & Coastal Communities:

n Historically,lackoemphasisoninshoresheriesmanagement

n Lackohistoricaldataonsomeimportantstocks

n Thecurrentlicensingarrangementsdonoteectivelymanageshingeortlevelsoninshorestocks.


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n Plantingotrees

n Reclamation,inlling,ploughingorotherwisedisturbingthesubstrate

n Removalosoil,mud,sand,gravel,rockorminerals

n Removingoralteringwallsorruinedbuildings

n Broad-scaleapplicationoanypesticideorherbicide

NotiableActionsdonotapply:

n Wherealicenceorpermissionisneededromaplanningauthority(e.g.planningpermission)oranotherMinister(e.g.a shinglicenceorplanningpermission)

n ToactivitiescoveredinaREPSorNPWSarmplan.

Other Actions

Forspecialareasoconservationgenerally,andspecicallyorthosemarineSACs,SPAs,NHAsandMPAsthatallwithintheinfuenceothisOperationalProgramme,Irelandiscommittedtoestablishingthenecessaryconservationmeasuresinvolving,ineedbe,appropriatemanagementplansspecicallydesignedorthesitesorintegratedintootherdevelopmentplans,andappropriatestatutory,administrativeor

contractualmeasureswhichcorrespondtotheecologicalrequirementsothenaturalhabitattypesinAnnexIandthespeciesinAnnexIIotheHabitatsDirectivepresentonthesites.

LikewiseIrelandiscommittedtotakingappropriatestepstoavoid,inthespecialareasoconservation,thedeteriorationonaturalhabitatsandthehabitatsospeciesaswellasdisturbanceothespeciesorwhichtheareashavebeendesignated.

Non Technical Summary o the Strategic

Environmental Assessment

Introduction

Fitzpatrick Associates,inassociationwithERMEnvironmental Resources Management Ireland Ltd.(ERMIreland)wascommissionedinApril007byBord Iascaigh Mhara(BIM)toundertakeanExAnteEvaluationandstrategicenvironmentalassessment(SEA)otheIrishSeaoodDevelopmentOperationalProgramme(SeaoodOP)007-013.ERMIrelandsroleintheprojectwastoprovideSEA-relatedinputs.TherequirementtoundertakeSEAisderivedromArticle11otheSEADirective.S.I.435o004istheIrishregulationorelevanceinrelationtotheSeaoodOPandisreerredtoastheSEARegulationhereater.

ScreeningwastherststageintheSEAprocess,regardingtheSeaoodOP,itwasdecidedtooregotheormalscreeningstageandprepareaScoping

ReportandthentheSEAEnvironmentalReport.ThisrefectedaconsiderationothescaleandpotentialenvironmentaleectswhicharelikelytoariseromtheimplementationotheSeaoodOP.

ScopingwasthesecondstageintheSEAprocess.Thepurposeoscopingistodeterminetheenvironmentalissues,andthelevelodetail,tobeconsideredintheEnvironmentalReport.TheSEAscopingmethodologyERMundertookwastooutlinetheenvironmentalissuesinaSEAScoping

Reportandthenconsultwiththedesignatedenvironmentalauthorities(inIreland)andotherMemberStates(transboundaryconsultations).TheDEHLGsSEAguidelineswereusedasaguidancedocumentduringtheSEAscopingprocess.Inallconsultation-cases,consulteeswereinvitedtomakesubmissionsontheScopingReport.

Thescopingconsultationperiodwas6weeksromthedateothesubmissionothedrat


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ScopingReport,whichconcludedonFriday19June007.ThedesignatedenvironmentalauthoritiesinIrelandare:

n EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA);

n DepartmentoEnvironment,HeritageandLocalGovernment(DEHLG);and

n DepartmentoCommunications,EnergyandNaturalResources(DCENR);ormerlyDCMNR(DepartmentoCommunications,MarineandNaturalResources).

Giventhescale(national-levelprogramme)andnatureotheSeaoodOP(addressingseaoodissuesinwaterswhichmaybeshedbyotherMemberStatesandwhichborderotherMemberStatesterritories),transboundaryconsultationwasundertakenwiththeollowingMemberStatesandtheirRegionalAuthorities(thosewithdevolvedpowers):

n NorthernIreland,

n Scot land,

n Wales,

n England,

n France,

n Spain,

n Netherlands,and

n Belgium.

Asixweektransboundaryconsultationperiod(whichinvolvedsendingthedratScopingReporttotheaboveMemberStates)wasprovidedor,whichconcludedonFriday9June007.

Preparation o the Environmental Report

FollowingcompletionothescopingstageotheSEAprocess,preparationotheEnvironmentalReportwasstarted.Theassessmentothepotentialsignicantimpactsontheenvironment

asaresultotheimplementationotheourinterventionsotheOPwasundertakenusinga

seriesoEnvironmentalObjectives(whichwereconsulteduponintheScopingstage).

Consultation

FollowingpreparationotheEnvironmentalReport,boththedratOPandtheEnvironmentalReportweremadeavailableorpublicandstatutoryconsultation.SubmissionsonthecontentothedratSeaoodOPandontheEnvironmentalReportwasinvitedromthe

shingindustry,othermarineandcoastalstakeholdersandtheinterestedpublic.TheconsultationperiodwasosixweeksdurationandconcludedonFriday18January008.

AdratSEAStatement(March008)hasbeenpreparedandisavailableasaseparatedocumenttothedratOP.Insummary,thisdratSEAStatementprovides:

1. Asummaryohowenvironmental

considerationsandtheenvironmentalReportwereactoredintotheplan;

. Summaryohowsubmissions/consultationsweretakenintoaccount;

3. Reasonsorchoosingtheplanasadopted,inthelightootherreasonablealternativesconsidered;and

4. Monitoringmeasures.

TheinormationoritemNo.1,iscontained

inSection4othedratSEAStatement,wherecommentresponsetableswerepreparedorthesubmissionsreceived.AmendmentstotheOPandEnvironmentalReportareplacedinboldoreaseoreerence.Asthecommentresponsetablesare8pagesinlength,itisnotpossibletooutlineallothesubmissionsreceived,BIMsresponsesandsubsequentamendmentsinthissectionbutthesearedetailedinSection4othedratSEAStatement.

Briefyandinsummary,thekeyamendments

totheOPandEnvironmentalReportrelatetourtherdescriptionsanddetailontheour


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measuresintheOP.Additionaldetailwasrequiredastherewasalevelomisunderstandingregardingthescope,ocusandpurposeotheindividualmeasurescontainedintheOP.AdditionaltextonrelatedplansandprogrammeswasalsoaddedtotheEnvironmentalReport,ontherequestoanumberoconsulteeauthorities.Additionaltextwasalsoaddedinrelationtodatagaps,cumulativeimpacts,consultationundertakenandSEAscoping.Oneothekeyamendmentswasthedevelopmentoanapplicationassessmentandmonitoringprotocol.Theobjectiveothispost-SEAassessmentprocedureistoensurethatanysignicant adverse impactswhichmightariseduringtheimplementationotheourinterventionsareidentied.ThiswasakeyissueraisedbytheNationalParksandWildlieServiceotheDepartmentotheEnvironment,HeritageandLocalGovernment.Finally,additionaltexthasbeenaddedtoupdatethebaselineanduturebaselinesectionsotheEnvironmentalReport.

ThemainobjectiveotheSEADirectiveistoprovideorahighleveloprotectionortheenvironmentandtocontributetotheintegrationoenvironmentalconsiderationsintothepreparationandadoptionoplansandprogrammeswithaviewtopromotingsustainabledevelopment.TheauthorityresponsibleorpreparingtheplanorprogrammeisusuallyresponsibleorundertakingtheSEA.

ThispartotheEnvironmentalReportis

theNon-TechnicalSummary(NTS),whichsummarisesthekeyaspectsotheEnvironmentalReport,thekeydocumentintheSEAprocess.

ThelegalcontextoSEAisbasedonDirective001/41/EC,whichprovidesortheassessmentotheeectsocertainplansandprogrammesontheenvironment(SEADirective)cameintoorceinIrelandon1July004.TheDirectiveappliestoplansandprogrammesorwhichtherstormalpreparatoryactionistakenonor

ater1July004.TherelevantIrishRegulationisEuropeanCommunities(Environmental

AssessmentoCertainPlansandProgrammes)Regulations004(S.I.435o004).FurtherinormationontheSEAprocesscanbeoundinSection3otheEnvironmentalReport.

Irish Seaood OP 2007-2013

TheoverallobjectiveotheSeaoodOPistoproduceasustainable,protable,competitiveandmarket-ocusedseaoodindustry.TheOPisseekingtomakethemaximum,long-term,

economicandsocialcontributiontocoastalcommunitiesandIrelandasawhole.ThepurposeotheOPistoprovidearameworkandconduitorECundingintoinitiativesaimedatsupportingandpromotingasustainableutureortheIrishSeaoodindustry.

TheOPisproducedbyBordIascaighMhara(BIM),theStateAgencypreparingtheIrishSeaoodOP,onbehalotheDepartmentoAgriculture,FisheriesandFood(DAFF).

TheSeaoodOPisinormedandguidedbyanumberomorestrategicdocuments,bothataEuropeanCommissionlevelandatanational(MemberState)level.Theseare:

1. CouncilRegulation(EC)No.1198/006ontheEuropeanFisheriesFund;

. CouncilRegulation(EC)No.498/007onlayingdowndetailedrulesortheimplementationoECNo.1198/006;

3. IrelandsNationalStrategicPlan;and

4. OutcomesotheExAnteEvaluation(reerredtoinArticle48oRegulation(EC)No.1198/006).

Furtherinormationontheseother,morestrategic,plansandprogrammescanbeoundinSection.otheEnvironmentalReport.

Thereareourinterventionswhichcomprisethe

SeaoodOPandthesearesummarisedinTable3.8below.


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Table 3.8 Summary o the 4 interventions o the Seaood OP

iNterveNtioN detail FuNdiNg

1. FleetDecommissioning Theinterventionisattemptingtoredressthesignicantimbalance

thatexistsbetweentheavailableresourceoshingquotaandthe

catchingcapacityotheIrishshingfeet.Thiswillbedonethrough

theintroductionoawhiteshvesseldecommissioningprogramme,

whichwillremoveapproximately11,140grosstonnesoshipsrom

thepolyvalentandbeamtrawlsectionsothewhiteshfeet.

46.4M

(70%)

. EnvironmentalManagementSystemsand

Practices

TheaimothisinterventionistoencouragetheSeaoodIndustrytoadoptanenvironmentallyconscious,responsibleandcompliant

approachtoallactivitiesandtotakealeadingroleatanationaland

EUlevelinconservationpracticeandadvocacytoensurestrengthened

compliancewithconservationneedsandregulatoryrequirements.

Thiswillbeachievedthroughthedevelopmentandpromotiono

EnvironmentalManagementSystems(EMS)uptakeinindustry.

TheinterventionalsoaimstocapitaliseonEMSbyidentiying;and

promotingseaoodproducedinaccordancewithEMS.

6M(9%)

3. InshoreManagement Thisinterventionaimstodevelopasustainable,viableand

environmentallyconsciousindustryinIreland.Thiswillbedelivered

throughthedevelopment,acilitationandimplementationonational

andlocalspeciesmanagementplansundertheShellshManagement

Framework,thecreationoanenhancedtestingprogramme,improved

stakeholderknowledgeogoodsheriesmanagementandthe

assessmentotheimpactoinshoreshingactivitiesinNatura000sites.

6.8M

(9%)

4. SustainableDevelopment

oFisheriesAreas

TheMeasureprovidessupportorthesustainabledevelopmentand

improvementothequalityolieineligiblesheriesareasasparto

anoverallstrategywhichseekstoenhancetheimplementationothe

CommonFisheriesPolicy,inparticulartakingaccountoitssocioeconomiceects.

7.M

(11%)

FurtherinormationonthedetailotheIrishSeaoodOPcanbeoundinSection 2.3otheEnvironmentalReport.

AnearlierdratotheIrishSeaoodOPcontained

agreaternumberointerventions.However,adviceandguidanceromtheCommissionresultedinsome

othesebeingremovedromtheOP.OneothekeyrequirementsotheinclusionoaninterventioninthisOPisthattheybeco-unded(i.e.bejointly-undedbytheEUandtherelevantMemberState).Someotheinterventionswhichwereoriginally

putorwardwerenotbeingco-undedbytheCommissionandwerethussubsequentlyremoved.


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Relevant Environmental Protection Objectives

TheSEARegulationsrequireadescriptionotheenvironmentalprotectionobjectives,establishedatinternational,EuropeanUnionornationallevel,whicharerelevanttotheplanorprogramme,ormodicationtoaplanorprogramme,andthewaythoseobjectivesandanyenvironmentalconsiderationshavebeentakenintoaccountduringitspreparation.RegardingtheSeaoodOP,theseare:

n EUSustainableDevelopmentStrategy;

n CommonFisheriesPolicy;

n OSPARConvention;

n ConventiononBiologicalDiversity;

n WaterFrameworkDirective(andassociatedDirectives);

n ConventiononWetlands;

n EUBirdsDirectiveandEUHabitatsDirective;n BathingWaterDirective;

n UrbanWastewaterTreatmentDirective;

n SEADirective;

n EIADirective;

n EuropeanUnionEco-ManagementandAuditScheme;and

n Aquaculture(LicensingApplication)

(Amendment)Regulations.

DetailsotheaboveenvironmentalprotectioninstrumentscanbeoundinSection.4otheEnvironmentalReport.

Alternatives considered

TheconsiderationoalternativesisanimportantpartoSEA.Theconsiderationoalternativewaystoachieveaplanorprogrammesobjectivescanotenresultinaminimisationonegativeenvironmentalimpacts.However,thescopeortheconsiderationoalternativeswithintheSeaood

OPissomewhatlimitedbytheEuropeanFisheriesFund(EFF);CouncilRegulationNo.1198/006andtheNationalStrategicPlan,bothowhichsetsthescopeotheSeaoodOP.Thus,theaxesandinterventionsintheOParepre-denedintheirscopeandspecicobjectives.TheimplicationothisortheconsiderationoalternativesisthattheOPcannotconsiderprioritieswhichareoutsideeligibleEUundingareasandcriteria.Additionally,commentandguidanceromthe

CommissionhasresultedincertaininterventionsinanearlierdratothisOPbeingremovedastheywerenotcompletelyco-undedbyboththeCommissionandtheIrishMemberState.

Furthermore,theSeaoodOPcannotoverlapitsundingwithotherEUandnationalprogrammestakingplaceinparallelwithit.

However,indeterminingthedetailandthespecicsotheinterventionswhichareincludedintheOP,signicantattemptsweremadetoensurethatenvironmentalconsiderationswereincluded,wherepossible.Furthermore,theimplementationotheOPanditsassociatedinterventionhasconsiderablescopeortheconsiderationoalternativesthroughcareulselectionovariousundingapplicationsand thedevelopmentoindividualprojects.

Scoping consultation

Thepurposeoscopingistodeterminetheenvironmentalissues,andthelevelodetail,tobeconsideredintheEnvironmentalReport.TheSEAscopingmethodologyERMundertookwastooutlinetheenvironmentalissuesinaSEAScopingReportandthenconsultwiththedesignatedenvironmentalauthorities(inIreland)andotherMemberStates(transboundaryconsultations).Inallconsultation-cases,consulteeswereinvitedtomakesubmissionsontheScopingReportandasix-weekperiod(MayJune007)

wasallowedor.


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4


Thedesignatedenvironmentalauthorities(asdenedintheIrishRegulationS.I.435o004)inIrelandwhowereconsultedwere:

n EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA);

n DepartmentoEnvironment,HeritageandLocalGovernment(DEHLG);and

n DCMNR(DepartmentoCommunications,MarineandNaturalResources).

MemberStates(ordevolvedauthorities)whowereconsultedwere:

n NorthernIreland,

n Scot land,

n Wales,

n England,

n France,

n Spain,

n Netherlands,and

n Belgium.

ResponseswerereceivedorallthreeothedesignatedenvironmentalconsulteesinIrelandandasingleresponsewasreceived(romtheNetherlands)duringthecourseothetransboundaryconsultation.Allresponseswereconsideredandappropriateresponsesprepared.ThesewereoutlinedinSection 4otheEnvironmentalReport.

Description o the existing environment

and identication o existing environmental

problems relevant to the Seaood OP

BaselineenvironmentalinormationisprovidedinSection 5otheEnvironmentalReport. Table3.9providesashortsummaryothekeybaselineenvironmentalissues.

Table 3.9 Summary o baseline environmental issues and environmental problems relevant to the Seaood OP

eNviroNmeNtal toPiC summary oF baseliNe issues

Biodiversity,

foraandauna

Fish stock levels:

Seafood Development Operational Programme 2007 - 2013

Documents

Transcript of Seafood Development Operational Programme 2007 - 2013