Vol. 296 No. 11
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if plans for the licensing of boats from third countries fishing within this country's 200-mile fishing limit have been finalised; and if he will give details in relation to the number and size of boats allowed to fish in these waters under the new agreement.
11.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has been advised by the EEC regarding the number of boats from non-member states being allowed to fish inside this country's 200-mile fishing limit.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 11 together.
In reply to a question on 27th January, 1977 I gave details of the present position in relation to fishing by third countries and other EEC member States in the Irish 200-mile fishery zone. The only third countries in respect of which a precise number of boats to be controlled by the issue of licences, as decided by the Council of Ministers of the European Communities are the Soviet Union, Poland and the German Democratic Republic. Agreement on a Council regulation on the detailed conditions to apply to fishing vessels of these countries in the extended fishing waters of the Community member states in the interim period ending 31st March, 1977 was reached on 28th January, 1977.
The regulation is concerned with the detailed application of the decision taken before the end of 1976 on the greatly reduced quotas which would apply to these countries. In the case of Ireland's 200-mile zone these quotas are only for mackrel and horse mackrel and they can be fished only in certain sea areas, all of which are more than 50 miles from the Irish coast.
The three countries concerned were notified by the country at present holding the presidency of the Council of Ministers, that is to say Britain, of the detailed conditions which will apply. Only vessels in respect of which licences have been issued will be permitted to fish in Community waters. They will be strictly limited in numbers.
The number of licences which may be issued for fishing vessels of between 2,000 and 3,500 gross registered tons will be limited to five for Poland, six for the German Democratic Republic and 27 for the Soviet Union. The maximum number of vessels of between 2,000 and 3,500 gross registered tons permitted to fish at the same time in Community waters is five for Poland, five for the German Democratic Republic and 17 for the Soviet Union.
Should vessels of a tonnage less than 2,000 GRT be used, the number of licences and the maximum number of vessels permitted to fish at the same time will be calculated according to the following conversion rates:
|
up to 1,000 GRT |
: |
2.5 |
|
1,000 to 2,000 GRT |
: |
1.5 |
Have the Government been notified of the names and registration of boats? The Parliamentary Secretary has given a number of boats for each of the countries involved. Is any extra information available to the Government in relation to this?
I do not think so. I will find out definitely for the Deputy as soon as I can. I think the answer is no but I will make sure.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary tell how it is possible for one of our patrol boats to arrest a boat if we do not know exactly if that boat has a right to be inside the 200-mile limit at a particular time? If the information in relation to the name of boats and the registration of boats is not available to the Government how can one of the patrol boats arrest one of those boats?
I presume those boats would carry with them either their licences, a facsimile of them or evidence of their licences. I do not want to stray too far from the brief. I will find out for the Deputy what the answer to it is.
Am I to take it that it is impossible for the patrol boat at the moment, when it is arresting a boat, to know whether it is inside or outside the 200-mile limit?
I do not see why it should be impossible. I have not got the information here and I would only be guessing.
