asked the Minister for Lands if he will state for each of the last ten years the number of new oyster fisheries opened, the number of these fisheries opened by non-nationals, the total annual production of oysters, and the total annual exports of oysters.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Oyster Fisheries.
30.
In referring to the opening of new oyster fisheries I presume the Deputy has in mind the making of oyster fishery orders under the legislation consolidated in Part XIV of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959: these orders are made after holding public inquiries and are published in Iris Oifigiúil. In the past ten years four such orders have been made —one in 1960, two in 1961 and one in 1963—and two further orders are about to be made. These six orders have been or will be made in favour of Irish nationals or Irish registered companies.
Statistics of the value of landings of oysters and of exports of oysters, where available, in each of the past ten years are in the form of a tabular statement which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:—
|
Year |
Landings |
Exports |
|
£ |
£ |
|
|
1953 |
6,489 |
not available |
|
1954 |
5,361 |
|
|
1955 |
3,100 |
|
|
1956 |
2,688 |
|
|
1957 |
5,389 |
|
|
1958 |
8,857 |
|
|
1959 |
9,469 |
|
|
1960 |
11,777 |
2,020 |
|
1961 |
14,398 |
7,395 |
|
1962 |
22,360 |
11,591 |
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say if the Department itself laid down any oyster beds in that period?
Yes, in Clew Bay.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary be in a position to say what was the variety of oysters laid down?
There was a considerable variety laid down and some of them were not too successful. The Department learned certain lessons from these experiments which are now being studied.
I will give the Parliamentary Secretary an opportunity of dealing with the matter later.
31.
asked the Minister for Lands what steps his Department are taking at present with a view to the development of Irish oyster fisheries.
Technical advice and official encouragement are provided for the proper cultivation of oysters. For the conservation of public oyster fisheries, bye-laws are made—for example, restricting periods of fishing and prescribing minimum size limits for oysters taken—and with a view to the development of new fisheries, applications from private interests for oyster fishery orders are sympathetically considered.