Minister Michael Creed TD receives Marine Institute Fish Stock Book 2017
The Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, TD has today received the Marine Institute Annual Stock Book. The Stock Book, which is one of the principal annual publications of the Institute, provides the latest impartial scientific advice on commercially exploited fish stocks of interest to Ireland. The Stock Book is used by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine at the annual quota negotiations with the EU in December of each year and throughout the year at fisheries management meetings. The publication provides the latest scientific advice for 61 fish stocks.
Minister Creed said, “The information presented by the Marine Institute in the Stock Book is critical to the preparations for the annual fisheries negotiations which are coming up in the next fortnight. The detailed stock by stock guide ensures we have the most up to date scientific advice at our finger tips. The fishing industry is a vital part of Ireland’s coastal economy, with Ireland’s quotas worth approximately €226 million in 2017”.
Dr Peter Heffernan, Marine Institute CEO said, “The seas around Ireland are among the most productive and biologically sensitive areas in EU waters. Our fisheries scientists spend collectively over 1000 scientific days each year at sea on the Marine Institutes two research vessels, surveying fish stocks and habitats so that we can have the best available information on the state of our stocks. Throughout the year our scientists also participate in and lead ICES working groups on international fish stocks in order to maintain healthy ocean ecosystems and sustain Ireland’s important blue economy.”
Throughout the year the Stock Book also serves as a valuable reference to a wide audience, including the fishing industry, managers, marine scientists, environmental NGO’s, third level institutes, financial institutions and those with an interest in the status and management of marine fisheries resources in the waters around Ireland.
The Stock Book is available electronically on the Marine Institute’s web site at www.marine.ie.
About the Marine Institute
The Marine Institute (MI) is the State agency responsible for marine research, technology development and innovation in Ireland. MI carry out environmental, fisheries, and aquaculture surveys and monitoring programmes to meet Ireland’s national and international legal requirements. The institute also provides scientific and technical advice to Government to help inform policy and to support the sustainable development of Ireland’s marine resource. MI aims to safeguard Ireland’s unique marine heritage through research and environmental monitoring. Its research, strategic funding programmes, and national marine research platforms support the development of Ireland’s maritime economy.
The Marine Institute was set up under the Marine Institute Act 1991:
“to undertake, to coordinate, to promote and to assist in marine research and development and to provide such services related to research and development, that in the opinion of the Institute, will promote economic development and create employment and protect the marine environment.”
About ICES
ICES is an intergovernmental organization whose main objective is to increase the scientific knowledge of the marine environment and its living resources and to use this knowledge to provide unbiased, non-political advice to competent authorities.
ICES science and advice considers both how human activities affect marine ecosystems and how ecosystems affect human activities. In this way, ICES ensures that best available science is accessible for decision-makers to make informed choices on the sustainable use of the marine environment and ecosystems.
To achieve this objective ICES prioritizes, organizes, delivers, and disseminates research needed to fill gaps in marine knowledge related to ecological, political, societal, and economic issues.
ICES delivers scientific publications, information and management advice requested by member countries and international organizations and commissions such as the Oslo Paris Commission (OSPAR), the Helsinki Commission - Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM), the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO), and the European Commission (EC).
Pictured at the presentation of the Marine Institute's annual Stock Book in Dublin are Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, TD, Peter Heffernan, CEO of the Marine Institute, John Killeen, Chairman of the Marine Institute and Paul Connolly, Director of Fisheries Ecosystems Advisory Services at the Marine Institute.
ENDS
Date Released: 28 November 2017
