asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the steps that are being taken by his Department to ensure the conservation of the stock of sea urchins.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Conservation of Sea Urchins.
9.
The taking of sea urchins by skin-diving is prohibited by bye-law. I do not consider that any other conservation measures are necessary at present.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that when complaints were made to the Garda Síochána about the taking of sea urchins by foreign skin divers the Gardai told people they had no function in the matter?
Landings of sea urchins are deemed to be of little significance and are not recorded separately in the fisheries statistics.
How could they be recorded if they were taken illegally?
In reply to Deputy Crowley's supplementary, Bye-law 533 of 1966 prohibits the taking of shellfish by means of skin diving. While scientifically there seems to be a doubt as to whether sea urchins are shellfish, the official attitude is that sea urchins are covered by the bye-law. When the Deputy hears about some person taking urchins from the sea by skin diving he should tell us and we will take the appropriate action or he should tell the local administrator.
Perhaps the Parliamentary Secretary is not aware of it but it is happening on his own door-step in the Schull area. He said it was insignificant but it is costing many people in that area their livelihoods.
Deputy Crowley, this is Question Time.
(Interruptions.)
That is a factual statement. I always like to give facts to those who ask questions.