Fine Gael would restore the marine as a full Cabinet post and would commit an additional €100 million annually to the sector if returned to Government, according to a new policy document.
The party would also abolish the Central Fisheries Board, transfer its research function to the Marine Institute, and would move towards an all-island inland waterways management structure, the document proposes.
Significantly, the party would also amend the controversial Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act to introduce a system of administrative penalties for minor sea fishery offences. The legislation sparked off protests within the fishing industry and tensions within Fianna Fáil earlier this year before its passage into law.
The 23-page document, which was launched by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and party marine spokesman John Perry in Dublin yesterday, identifies the marine sector as one of the State's greatest but most neglected resources. Mr Perry said that an additional 3,000 jobs could be created on the coastline through the its implementation.
The policy is costed and includes a commitment to increase budgetary funding by €25 million in the first year of government, and to draw down an additional €75 million annually from the National Development Plan (NDP). The first year's additional budgetary funding would be maintained in subsequent years, subject to a value-for-money audit, the document says.
As part of re-establishment of a full marine department, marine safety and environment sections would be reintegrated - safety was transferred to the Department of Transport last January. Fine Gael would also liaise with industry bodies to ensure the sector is represented on social partnership structures.
The policy supports fishing fleet decommissioning, but says that crew personnel should also be compensated, and it promises a "complete reform" of Ireland's system of fish quota management. The policy proposes using Fine Gael's "Green Ireland" food labelling system to promote seafood products.
It promises more resources for the Marine Institute for research. It commits to investment in the aquaculture sector, including a minimum of €70 million annually in funding. Environmental monitoring of aquaculture will be "intensified" and the issue of sea lice will be addressed, it says.
The policy also proposes "realigning" the seven regional fisheries boards, with a view to moving towards a full north-south inland fisheries structure on the model of the Loughs Agency on the Foyle. It promises a statutory regulator to ensure uniformity of enforcement and an evaluation of the extent of damage caused by predators - such as seals, cormorants and mink - to fish stocks.
It says that €39 million promised under the outgoing NDP for development of inland fisheries "never materialised", and it says a "realistic" level of funding must be made available for improving and maintaining river systems and fisheries habitats.
The policy says marine tourism has enormous potential, and focuses on development of more marinas and developing game and coarse angling.
The Federation of Irish Fishermen has welcomed the policy, which, it says,"demonstrates a detailed knowledge and understanding of the broad range of issues facing the marine and particularly the fishing sector and as such deserves detailed scrutiny by voters in coastal constituencies".
Speaking at the launch, Mr Kenny urged drift net fishermen not to breach the ban on salmon. "Fine Gael stands by the rule of law," he said, adding that the party now accepted the advice of the expert group which recommended the drift net ban.
