asked the Minister for Fisheries the number of Spanish boats licensed to fish within our 200-mile limit; the extent of their rights to fish in this area; and the plans he has to cut back on their fishing effort.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Spanish Fishing Boats .
5.
: Provision has been made for the licensing of 64 Spanish vessels to fish for hake only in the waters of EEC member states including Ireland coming within the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES, statistical areas VI and VII in the period to 24 June 1978; not more that 41 of these boats may fish at any one time. This, coupled with reduced quotas, represents a considerable cut back on the fishing effort of Spanish vessels in our waters over recent years.
In the period 1-24 June 1978, licensed Spanish vessels may take a total of 419 tonnes of hake in ICES areas VI and VII with an associated by-catch of 838 tonnes of other species.
It is my intention to continue to press for a further reduction of fishing effort by Spanish vessels in our waters.
: Can these boats fish within 12 miles of our coast?
: The Spanish have traditional fishing rights within six and 12 miles. It is our main endeavour in the present talks, both bilaterally between ourselves and Spain and between Spain and the Community, to ensure they are eased out of their traditional rights. These talks are going rather well up to now. I hope a constructive approach will be adopted towards their eventual conclusion.
: Is there any restriction on the length of boats and the size of nets that these people are using?
: They are subject to the Irish provisions. One important matter is that we have gained an insistence by way of Community regulation that they shall not from now on fish with gill-nets in our waters. We have prohibited the Spanish from fishing with gill-nets in our waters. The importance of these negotiations can be emphasised by one figure: that it is estimated now that Spanish vessels fishing in Community waters have been cut down to half by reason of these discussions with Spain over the past 12 months. That is a substantial achievement.
: Would the Minister tell the House if it is the intention of the Irish Navy protection service to make any on-the-spot check of these Spanish vessels?
: They have been doing so. It is symptomatic of what I am saying—that they have been cut down substantially in regard to licences—that the Irish Navy has had substantial success in catching and apprehending unlawful and unlicensed Spanish boats fishing in our waters by reason of the fact that the Spanish fishermen themselves have not caught up yet with the very tough licensing régime which we have negotiated with their Government and which the Community have negotiated with their Government.
: To what extent does the Minister think Spanish fishermen are ignoring this arrangement?
: I answered the question a moment ago. We have negotiated a cut-back in the number of Spanish boats fishing in our waters and in Community waters by half, so that there is a 50 per cent reduction. What I have just said to the Deputy if he was listening—and I want to say it now more slowly—is that by reason of that regulation a number of Spanish boats have not yet got the message. That accounts for the fact that the Irish Navy are catching a substantial number of unlicensed Spanish boats whose personnel have not yet got the message from their Government and the Community. But we have negotiated an arrangement which is now being enforced and, due to the prompt action by the Irish Navy in ensuring that the message has got home, I am certain that this policy is proving successful.
: Is the Minister satisfied that all Spanish fishermen fishing in our waters are now aware of this arrangement?
: I am not responsible for the state of mind of Spanish fishermen. Would the Deputy have some sense?
: Do Irish Navy personnel board these Spanish trawlers to make checks to see that there is——
: They do, yes. In fact I want to pay a tribute to my colleague, Deputy Molloy, and to the Department of Defence and the Irish Navy for the excellent work they are doing in this respect.
: If the Minister looked at newspaper cuttings yesterday he would not think so.