asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will grant a permit to recognised fishermen normally resident in the Foyle area, who hold drift net licences from Letterkenny Board of Conservators and who fish the common high sea waters, to enable them to land their catches at Greencastle or Glengad piers, County Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drift Net Fishing.
47.
Control over the landing of salmon catches taken at sea at the landing places mentioned by the Deputy, comes within the jurisdiction of the Foyle Fisheries Commission. The statutory requirement that salmon may be landed or held in possession within the Foyle area only by the holder of a proper licence does not admit of any exceptions by way of permit.
The Parliamentary Secretary is aware that the issuing of drift net licences is curtailed in the Foyle fishery area. In view of the fact that there are men in the fishing industry who cannot obtain a salmon licence for the season and who are therefore unemployed and who now find that they can obtain a licence in the Letterkenny area is it not possible to give them a permit to land their fish in the Foyle area if they fish outside that area?
It is not possible to do so because if this was allowed it would be impossible to administer the scheme in the Foyle area. As the Deputy knows, there are no limits with regard to drift net licences in the Letterkenny area. It is necessary to conserve the fish stocks. There have been complaints about the inadequacy of the stocks within the Foyle area. We cannot allow the area to be overfished.
It is the attitude of the Department to develop the fishing industry and it is most inconsistent that the issuing of licences is curtailed, particularly to recognised fishermen. These men can obtain licences from the Letterkenny Fishing Board and land their catches at Portrush, and yet they are not allowed to land them at Glengad or Greencastle. If the Parliamentary Secretary cannot allow them to land their fish at these ports, can they brings their nets and boats back to their home ports if they land their catches in the Portrush or Letterkenny area? Can they bring their nets and equipment to their home ports?
It is a matter for the fishermen themselves to establish that the fish were not caught within the Foyle fishery area if they have not got a licence to fish within that area. The licences are restricted in the Foyle Fisheries Commission area.
Wrongly so.
They are restricted because of the shortage of stocks.
Why should they be restricted in the Swilly area? Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise the question I am asking? The fishermen operating for the full fishing season, excluding the salmon season, who live in the Foyle area cannot obtain a licence for the salmon fishing in that area, but they can get licences for the Lough Swilly area. Is this not inconsistent? Having got licences for the Swilly area, they are not allowed land their catches at their home ports even though they give an undertaking that they have been fishing on the high seas and not inside the Foyle fishery area. They are allowed to land their catches at Portrush and in the Lough Swilly area. Will the Parliamentary Secretary allow them to come back with their boats and equipment to their home ports?
Yes, and if they come back—do not get me wrong on this— the onus is on the fishermen themselves to show to the satisfaction of the Foyle Fisheries Commission that the fish were caught outside the Foyle fisheries area. The onus is on them to prove this to the satisfaction of the Foyle Fisheries Commission. The Deputy has mentioned the Swilly. The licences are issued from the Letterkenny board and there are two different fees for the licences. In one area one can get a licence for £3 from the Letterkenny board. The Foyle Fisheries Commission area charge £20.
Everyone would get one.
Does the Deputy think it logical to let the people with the £3 licences fish in the Foyle area?
No; the whole thing is illogical.
The Deputy is saying that the licences should be freely available.
I cannot allow any further supplementaries on this question.
(Interruptions.)
Do I take it from the Parliamentary Secretary if a fisherman is holding a Swilly fishing licence from the Letterkenny board and lands his catch in the Lough Swilly area or in Portrush that he is to be allowed to come back to his home port with his gear and that he will not be prosecuted for fishing illegally, if the commission are satisfied that he has not fished illegally?
It is for the Foyle Fisheries Commission to decide on this matter. If they are satisfied that the fisherman has not caught any fish in the Foyle area—this is what the whole thing hinges on——
He will be allowed to come back with the fishing boat and gear?
The remaining Questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
I wish to raise the subject matter of Question No. 84 of Wednesday last, 19th May, on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.