asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether he will investigate the need to institute some supervision into the alleged serious overfishing of lobsters now taking place on the western seaboard, in particular by foreign owned fishing interests.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Lobster Fishing.
11.
The scientific staff of my Department is keeping under constant review the level of exploitation of lobster stocks and so far has obtained no evidence of overfishing of the stock on the west coast. Any threat to the lobster population arising out of fishing can only relate to illegal taking of undersized lobsters and this aspect is being specially watched.
As to the Deputy's reference to foreign owned fishing interests, the position is that only Irish nationals and Irish registered companies are entitled to fish for lobsters inside the exclusive fishery limits of the State.