asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries his reason for introducing Purse Seine By-law No. 585, 1976; and how he intends that this by-law should be enforced.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishery By-Laws.
24.
The Prohibition of Herring Fishing by Purse Seine By-law No. 585 of 1976 was made for the purpose of conserving herring stocks. The by-law will be enforced by the Naval Service and by officers of my Department.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary tell the House within what limits it is proposed to enforce this by-law?
It will be enforced within our own exclusive limits where we have absolute authority and, in conjunction with the NEAFC, the Celtic Sea is covered as also is the Donegal Coast while in the Deputy's part of the country— Mayo and Galway—the by-law will operate also within our limits.
This by-law has general approval although there may be a number of small objections to it. A purse seine is a very large net which can be likened to a circular wall surrounding a large area of sea. The net is very effective and can catch large quantities of fish. Depending on specifications it can cost anywhere between £30,000 and £80,000. So far as we are aware there is no such net being used at present here. A small number of skippers have in mind the expenditure of a large sum of money on acquiring a net of this kind. I made this order quite recently so they cannot come back and say that they have a net costing £80,000 which they cannot use. There is no such net in operation at present and the conservation of our herring stocks, which is so important, compels us to ensure that no seine net is fished around our coasts in the future.
I take it from the reply that Irish fishermen will not be allowed to use this net inside the 12-mile limit which we have at the moment. What will the position be in relation to foreign fishermen who have fished in what we call the outer six of the 12? Will they be prohibited?
In certain areas such as the Celtic Sea that is so, but outside our limits we have no authority to exclude fishermen from using this net. We have agreement with the NEAFC in so far as the Celtic Sea is concerned. This kind of net is banned throughout that area. Discussions on this question are continuing and possibly we will get wider acceptance by the fishermen and by our partners in the NEAFC in regard to this ban which is essential if our herring stocks are to be conserved.
Will nations who traditionally fished in the outer six be allowed to use the seine net or will this order prohibit them from using the first seine net in this area? Has any agreement been reached with the other nations concerned in this matter?
This will preclude them from fishing this net in all waters over which we have authority. The ban will be extended to other areas where we have reached agreement with the NEAFC. If there are further points on which the Deputy needs clarification I will be glad to discuss them with him.
Why is it that this order is applicable only to Irish fishermen within the 12-mile limit and does not seem to be applicable to fishermen fishing outside the limit?
This is repetition.
We have no control.
Why prohibit Irish fishermen?
When we were negotiating entry to the EEC we forgot about fishermen.
Why prohibit Irish fishermen and let the foreigners go free?