From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue today announced that the Tier 1 and Tier 2 polyvalent vessels that had no authorisation to fish mackerel in December 2021, and who availed of aid under the Temporary Fleet Tie-up Scheme in that month, will not have the payment from that scheme deducted from their aid under this new Pelagic Fisheries Support Scheme.
The Pelagic Fisheries Support Scheme, funded under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund, provides a €25.6 million support package for the Irish pelagic fisheries sector. It will compensate owners of Refrigerated Sea Water (RSW) pelagic vessels and polyvalent Tier 1 and Tier 2 vessels that have suffered losses of mackerel quota over the period 2021-2023 as a result of the quota transfers to the EU under Brexit. The support is designed to stabilise cashflow and assist vessel owners to re-structure their operations in light of the loss of earnings associated with the reduction of available quota under the TCA. The short-term aid is essential financial support to allow the 23 RSW vessels and the 27 polyvalent Tier 1 and Tier 2 vessels sufficient time to put in place longer-term restructuring measures.
Minister McConalogue said:
“This €25.6 million support for the RSW pelagic fleet segment recognises the impact of quota transfers to the UK from the EU under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), and in particular that this segment of the Irish fleet has suffered the largest TCA related quota reductions for the main target species of mackerel. I welcome the engagement of the Commission in clarifying this important aspect of the implementation of this scheme, which now means that the maximum aid possible under the scheme may be paid to the affected vessels.”
The Pelagic Fisheries Support Scheme was one of the recommendations of the Seafood Taskforce appointed by the Minister. It is restricted to eligible vessels in the RSW pelagic segment as well as Polyvalent Tier 1 and Tier 2 vessels fishing for mackerel in 2021 and 2022. Payments under the scheme represent the value of reduced fishing opportunities that resulted from the actual loss of mackerel quota in 2021 and 2022 arising from the quota transfer of quota to the UK. In monetary terms, the loss of mackerel per vessel over the same period, equates to the loss of one month’s fishing opportunities per year, with payment calculated on the average monthly turnover per vessel, less cost of fuel and provisions, over the period 2018-2020, compensating for one month per annum for 2021 and 2022.
The Minister added:
“The RSW pelagic fleet segment has suffered significant quota loss of some 20,130 tonnes worth approximately €27.3 million, and this much needed support will go some way to supporting the segment to adjust to the changed situation we find ourselves in so as to ensure a profitable and sustainable fishing fleet into the future. Now that I have secured State Aid approval from the EU Commission, I will be instructing BIM to administer this scheme without delay.”
Scheme information, once launched, will be available on BIM's website.
The Task Force recognised that the RSW Pelagic segment of the Irish fleet have suffered the largest TCA related quota reductions for their main target species of mackerel.
There are 23 RSW vessels and 27 Polyvalent Tier 1 and Tier 2 vessels in this fleet segment, targeting pelagic species such as mackerel, horse mackerel, blue whiting, herring, and boarfish during Q1 and Q4. These vessels typically tie-up for Q2 and Q3 except for some which participate in the albacore fishery in Q3.
Based on the actual quota allocations (that is, post-Brexit) for the period 2021-2022 compared to the quotas that would have been allocated under relative stability pre-Brexit, the total quota losses are estimated at around €36.8 million. For the RSW pelagic fleet segment, this represents a quota loss of 20,130 tonnes (€27.3 million).