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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 Nov 1973

Vol. 268 No. 11

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Waterlife Conservation.

149.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries his policy on the conservation of waterlife.

An essential part of the Government's programme for the development of our sea and inland fisheries is the rational exploitation and conservation of the fish stocks in our coastal waters, rivers and lakes. To this end various measures such as minimum legal size limits for fish, minimum legal mesh of nets, licensing provisions and limitation of the number of licences that may be issued, have been taken under the Fisheries Acts for the protection of most of the species which figure in the catches of Irish fishermen.

Could I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if the reports that I have seen are true that other member states of the EEC are now seeking to conserve fish life only by means of limiting the catches each country would take in our national waters? Is this report true or will we continue to have our 12 mile limit?

We are in communication with the other countries regarding the systems that prevail and we are in close co-operation, particularly with western European countries, and in my view the measures we are adopting at present—when I say "we" I mean the Government and the Department—are quite adequate.

I hope the Parliamentary Secretary is right.

Naturally, we will be discussing this again with the EEC people.

I can rest assured that the Parliamentary Secretary will do the best he can to ensure that our fish stocks are preserved?

Yes. The measures are set out there and I have given the Deputy some additional ones.

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