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The Seafood Sector Taskforce committee has launched a public consultation through BIM in advance of publication of the interim report
The Seafood Sector Taskforce committee is now seeking written submissions or observations within the scope of the terms of reference in advance of publication of the interim report.
You can email your submissions to taskforce@bim.ie before 22 April 2021.
The Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM), Charlie McConalogue TD, announced the establishment of a Seafood Sector Taskforce on 26 February 2021. The Taskforce was established to make recommendations to the Minister on measures to mitigate the impacts of the fish quota share reductions, arising from the EU/UK Trade & Cooperation Agreement (TCA), on the Irish Fishing industry and on the coastal communities that depend on fisheries.
Terms of Reference
The Task Force will examine the implications arising from the EU/UK TCA for the Irish Fishing industry and coastal communities particularly dependent upon it. It will, in particular, outline initiatives that could be taken to provide supports for development and restructuring so as to ensure a profitable and sustainable fishing fleet and to identify opportunities for jobs and economic activity in coastal communities dependent on fishing. The Task Force will consider how all available funding streams could be used to address, to the extent possible, the initiatives identified and the State agencies to support those initiatives. The Task Force will also consider and recommend constructive actions that would help to alleviate the inequitable relative contribution of quota share by Ireland in the EU/UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
The examination and initiatives identified will relate to:
- the Irish fishing fleet
- the Irish seafood processing industry other marine support industries
- coastal communities particularly dependent on the seafood industry.
Work Programme and Consultation
The Task Force will be charged with producing an interim report within two months of its establishment. This will focus on arrangements for a temporary voluntary fleet tie up scheme, to counter the impact of the reduction in quotas which will begin to occur from April. The Task Force will also be charged with producing a full report within four months.
The task force committee is now seeking written submissions or observations within the scope of the terms of reference in advance of publication of the interim report. Please email your submissions to taskforce@bim.ie before the 22 April 2021.
The Taskforce
The Taskforce is chaired by Aidan Cotter (barrister and former CEO of Bord Bia). Mr Cotter will be assisted by a steering group comprised of Margaret Daly (Deputy CEO of seafood processor Errigal Bay Ltd) and Mícheal Ó Cinnéide (former Director of the EPA and former Director in the Marine Institute and presently on the board of the Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board).
The task force committee is made up of participants from the following organisations:
- Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation
- Irish Fish Producers Organisation
- Irish South & West Fishermen’s Organisation
- Irish South & East Fishermen’s Organisation
- Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation PO
- National Inshore Fisheries Forum
- Fishermen’s Co-operatives (4 main Coops)
- Irish Fish Processors & Exporters Organisation
- Irish farmers Association (aquaculture branch)
- Fisheries Local Action Groups (1 representative of the 7 FLAGs)
- Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine
- Bord Iascaigh Mhara (secretariat)
- Enterprise Ireland
- Tourism Ireland
- Local Government Management Agency (two coastal local authority representatives)
- Údarás na Gaeltachta representative
For more information click here.
