"One of the challenges that we have faced when designing supports for the inshore fleet has been the gaps in the data and knowledge available to us," said Minister McConalogue.
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After several meetings with industry representatives, Ireland's Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, announced he is putting a new scheme in place specifically to support and enable the economic development of the inshore fishing fleet, and, more particularly, its ability to access markets.
In 2023, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) conducted a census of the Irish inshore fishery that will be the knowledge base on which the new scheme announced by Ireland's Government will be based. However, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has announced that BIM's data will be reinforced with additional detailed information related to the current market knowledge and marketing routes used by coastal fishermen, as well as their ability to identify and access new markets.
To achieve this, a new survey will be conducted by applicants to inform and enable a detailed and comprehensive assessment of these aspects of the sector. This, in turn, will allow the Ministry and BIM to develop and target effective supports that will help coastal fishers respond to the market challenges they face.
"One of the challenges that we have faced when designing supports for the inshore fleet has been the gaps in the data and knowledge available to us. Once we have this additional data, we will then be able to target supports more effectively and support the continued economic viability of the inshore fleet in coming years," said McConalogue.
The Minister has asked BIM to develop and implement this scheme, which will be funded under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund. It is expected to open for applications in September 2024.
"I was pleased to announce the opening of the Inshore Fisheries Scheme recently, which provides vital funding support to the inshore fleet for both on-board and on-shore investment, and the opening of the V-notching Scheme, which is an important conservation scheme for inshore lobster fisheries. This new scheme will complement these schemes, providing the support needed to assist the fleet in developing and accessing markets, and getting a fair price for their catch," the Minister concluded.
The survey will be conducted in two stages and, as mentioned, to encourage participation in the survey - and also in recognition of the significant administrative work involved for those who participate -, the scheme will provide for applicants to receive a payment.
According to information provided by Ireland's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, payments will be based on vessel length to be paid in two installments, one upon completion of each survey stage.
Under the scheme, a total of EUR 3,500 (USD 3,821) will be available for vessels under 8 meters long, and a total of EUR 5,000 (USD 5,458) for vessels between 8 and 17.99 meters long. The first payment will be EUR 2,000 (USD 2,183) for eligible ships upon completion of Stage 1 of the survey, with the balance remaining upon completion of Stage 2.
As for the type of data to be collected in the survey, these will cover four broad groups: market and economic factors - including fish prices and market trends, market access, market chains and distribution, cooperatives and collective action -; social and institutional factors - such as transportation and logistics or financial and credit services -; socioeconomic and demographic data; and technological and innovative practices - this is the use of technology, and social networks and digital marketing -.